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We need to talk about error: causes and types of error in veterinary practice

Oxtoby, C.; Ferguson, E.; White, K.; Mossop, L.

Authors

C. Oxtoby

EAMONN FERGUSON eamonn.ferguson@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Health Psychology

KATE WHITE KATE.WHITE@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia

L. Mossop



Abstract

Patient safety research in human medicine has identified the causes and common types of medical error and subsequently informed the development of interventions which mitigate harm, such as the WHO’s safe surgery checklist. There is no such evidence available to the veterinary profession. This study therefore aims to identify the causes and types of errors in veterinary practice, and presents an evidence based system for their classification. Causes of error were identified from retrospective record review of 678 claims to the profession’s leading indemnity insurer and nine focus groups (average N per group=8) with vets, nurses and support staff were performed using critical incident technique. Reason’s (2000) Swiss cheese model of error was used to inform the interpretation of the data. Types of error were extracted from 2978 claims records reported between the years 2009 and 2013. The major classes of error causation were identified with mistakes involving surgery the most common type of error. The results were triangulated with findings from the medical literature and highlight the importance of cognitive limitations, deficiencies in non-technical skills and a systems approach to veterinary error.

Citation

Oxtoby, C., Ferguson, E., White, K., & Mossop, L. (2015). We need to talk about error: causes and types of error in veterinary practice. Veterinary Record, 177(17), https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.103331

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 13, 2015
Online Publication Date Oct 29, 2015
Publication Date Oct 31, 2015
Deposit Date May 11, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Veterinary Record
Print ISSN 0042-4900
Electronic ISSN 0042-4900
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 177
Issue 17
DOI https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.103331
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/762812
Publisher URL http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/177/17/438