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The following is a summary of “Post-pandemic patient safety: have the characteristics of incidents with harm changed? Comparative observational study in primary care via review of medical records with a trigger tool,” published in the November 2024 issue of Primary Care by González et al. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to analyze the impact of COVID-19-induced healthcare changes, such as healthcare reorganization and remote consultations, on patient safety risks. 

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional, comparative study in the Primary Care Service of the Madrid region, analyzing patient safety incidents with harm (PSIH) before (2018) and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2021/2022). Patients over 18 with at least 1 consultation in the past year were included, with samples of 2,000 (2018) and 2,700 (2021/2022) selected randomly. Medical records were screened using validated triggers, and trained nurse-physician teams reviewed flagged records. PSIH characteristics, including avoidability, severity, location, nature, and contributory factors, were compared using Fisher’s exact test. 

The results showed 63 PSIHs in the first sample and 25 in the second. There were no significant differences in avoidability (62% vs. 52%, P = 0.47), severity (mild 51% vs. 48%, P = 0.57), or occurrence in the primary care setting (73% vs. 64%, P = 0.47). Although no overall differences were observed in incidents (P = 0.13), a significant increase in diagnostic errors was found, with pre-pandemic rates of 6% vs 20% at present (P < 0.05). No significant differences were noted in contributory factors. 

The study concluded that there were no differences in avoidability, severity, or contributory factors of PSIHs before and after the pandemic. They identified an increase in diagnostic errors, likely due to more remote consultations and reduced continuity of care. 

Source: bmcprimcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12875-024-02639-3