Adverse events identified by a trigger tool as indicators of patient safety and safety management in a medical department

Pierdevara, Ludmila; Porcel-Gálvez, Ana Maria; Eiras , Margarida

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.21/22434

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Authors

Pierdevara, Ludmila

Porcel-Gálvez, Ana Maria

Eiras , Margarida

Abstract(s)

Background: Adverse events (AEs) in hospital settings pose a significant threat to patient safety, particularly in patients with multiple comorbidities. Systematic detection tools, such as the Global Trigger Tool, have proven to be more sensitive than traditional voluntary reporting systems in identifying AEs. Objective: This study analyzes the prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with the occurrence of AEs in an internal medicine department, focusing on patients with multiple morbidities, using a combined approach that integrates the European Portuguese version of the Global Trigger Tool (GTT-PT) and a voluntary reporting system. Methods: This observational, retrospective, exploratory study was conducted in four internal medicine departments at a Portuguese hospital center. A total of 360 randomly selected clinical records were included in this study. AEs were identified using the GTT-PT and by analyzing voluntary incident reports. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were analyzed using binary logistic regression. Results: A total of 718 AEs were identified, of which 564 (78.6%) occurred during hospitalization. Most events were of moderate severity (categories E and F in the Institute for Healthcare Improvement classification). Length of hospital stay was the main predictor of AEs occurrence (odds ratio [OR] range 1.011-1.173). The use of a nasogastric tube was also significantly associated with increased AE risk (OR = 6.693). The GTT-PT detected significantly more events than the voluntary reporting system. Conclusion: The combined use of the GTT-PT and voluntary reporting systems is highly effective in detecting AEs in internal medicine settings. Length of hospital stay and use of invasive devices are key factors associated with AE occurrence. These findings underscore the importance of institutional policies that support a non-punitive safety culture and encourage the systematic integration of proactive monitoring methodologies into clinical practice.

Description

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the healthcare professionals and staff of the Internal Medicine Department of the Algarve University Hospital Center for their invaluable collaboration and support throughout this study. The authors also acknowledge Editage (www.editage.com) for providing professional language editing assistance during the preparation of this manuscript.

Keywords

Global trigger tool Medical error Patient safety Safety management Adverse event Portugal

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.21/22434

Citation

Pierdevara L, Porcel-Gálvez AM, Eiras M. Adverse events identified by a trigger tool as indicators of patient safety and safety management in a medical department. Front Public Health. 2025;13:1711864.