Prospective evaluation of a multifaceted intervention to improve outcomes in intensive care: the Promoting Respect and Ongoing Safety through Patient Engagement Communication and Technology study.
Establishing a strong safety culture may lead to a reduction in adverse events. Many health care institutions are focused on improving multiple aspects of culture including teamwork, communication, and patient engagement to mitigate harm. In this prospective study, researchers sought to understand the impact of a multicomponent intervention involving structured team communication as well as patient engagement tools and training on patient safety in the intensive care unit. They included 1030 admissions in the baseline period and 1075 in the intervention period. The rate of adverse events decreased by almost 30%, from 59.0 per 1000 patient days in the baseline period to 41.9 per 1000 patient days during the intervention period. Patient and care partner satisfaction improved as well. A past PSNet perspective discussed the relationship between patient engagement and patient safety.