The incidence of adverse events among home care patients

Int J Qual Health Care. 2013 Feb;25(1):16-28. doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzs075. Epub 2013 Jan 2.

Abstract

Objective: Incidence of adverse events (AEs) among home care patients and preventability ratings were estimated. Risk factors, AE types and factors associated with AEs were identified.

Design: This study used a stratified, randomized sample of home care patients discharged in the fiscal year 2004/05. Trained nurse reviewers completed retrospective chart abstractions; charts for cases that were positive for screening criteria suggesting the presence of AEs were reviewed by trained physicians to determine the presence of and preventability of AEs.

Setting: Three publicly funded home care programs in Ontario, Canada.

Main outcome measures: Prevalence and types of AEs; ratings of preventability.

Results: At least one screening criterion was positively identified in 286 (66.5%) of 430 cases. Physician reviewers identified 61 AEs in 55 (19.2%) of the 286 (12.8% of the 430) cases. The AE rate was 13.2 per 100 home care cases [95% confidence interval (CI): 10.4-16.6%, standard error 1.6%]. 32.7% (20 of 61 AEs) of the AEs were rated as having >50% probability of preventability; 6 deaths (10.9% of patients with an AE; 1.4% of all patients) occurred in AE-positive patients. The most common AEs were falls and adverse drug events.

Conclusions: Providing health care through home care programs creates unintended harm to patients. The incidence rate of AEs of 13.2% suggests a significant number of home care patients experience AEs, one-third of which were considered preventable. Improvements in patient and informal caregiver education, skill development and clinical planning may be useful interventions to reduce AEs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
  • Aged
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Female
  • Home Care Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Medical Audit
  • Medical Errors / classification
  • Medical Errors / prevention & control
  • Medical Errors / statistics & numerical data*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Ontario
  • Patient Safety / statistics & numerical data*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors