Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of medical error case reporting by national newspapers on inpatient volume at acute care hospitals. DESIGN: A case-control study was conducted using the article databases of 3 major Japanese newspapers with nationwide circulation between fiscal years 2012 and 2013. Data on inpatient volume at acute care hospitals were obtained from a Japanese government survey between fiscal years 2011 and 2014. Panel data were constructed and analyzed using a difference-in-differences design. SETTING: Acute care hospitals in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: Hospitals named in articles that included the terms “medical error” and “hospital” were designated case hospitals, which were matched with control hospitals using corresponding locations, nurse-to-patient ratios, and bed numbers. EXPOSURE: Medical error case reporting in newspapers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes to hospital inpatient volume after error reports. RESULTS: The sample comprised 40 case hospitals and 40 control hospitals. Difference-in-differences analyses indicated that newspaper reporting of medical errors was not significantly associated (P = 0.122) with overall inpatient volume. CONCLUSIONS: Medical error case reporting by newspapers showed no influence on inpatient volume. Hospitals therefore have little incentive to respond adequately and proactively to medical errors. There may be a need for government intervention to improve the posterror response and encourage better health care safety.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Patient Safety |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - Jun 30 2017 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Leadership and Management
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Changes to Hospital Inpatient Volume After Newspaper Reporting of Medical Errors. / Fukuda, Haruhisa.
In: Journal of Patient Safety, 30.06.2017.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes to Hospital Inpatient Volume After Newspaper Reporting of Medical Errors
AU - Fukuda, Haruhisa
PY - 2017/6/30
Y1 - 2017/6/30
N2 - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of medical error case reporting by national newspapers on inpatient volume at acute care hospitals. DESIGN: A case-control study was conducted using the article databases of 3 major Japanese newspapers with nationwide circulation between fiscal years 2012 and 2013. Data on inpatient volume at acute care hospitals were obtained from a Japanese government survey between fiscal years 2011 and 2014. Panel data were constructed and analyzed using a difference-in-differences design. SETTING: Acute care hospitals in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: Hospitals named in articles that included the terms “medical error” and “hospital” were designated case hospitals, which were matched with control hospitals using corresponding locations, nurse-to-patient ratios, and bed numbers. EXPOSURE: Medical error case reporting in newspapers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes to hospital inpatient volume after error reports. RESULTS: The sample comprised 40 case hospitals and 40 control hospitals. Difference-in-differences analyses indicated that newspaper reporting of medical errors was not significantly associated (P = 0.122) with overall inpatient volume. CONCLUSIONS: Medical error case reporting by newspapers showed no influence on inpatient volume. Hospitals therefore have little incentive to respond adequately and proactively to medical errors. There may be a need for government intervention to improve the posterror response and encourage better health care safety.
AB - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of medical error case reporting by national newspapers on inpatient volume at acute care hospitals. DESIGN: A case-control study was conducted using the article databases of 3 major Japanese newspapers with nationwide circulation between fiscal years 2012 and 2013. Data on inpatient volume at acute care hospitals were obtained from a Japanese government survey between fiscal years 2011 and 2014. Panel data were constructed and analyzed using a difference-in-differences design. SETTING: Acute care hospitals in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: Hospitals named in articles that included the terms “medical error” and “hospital” were designated case hospitals, which were matched with control hospitals using corresponding locations, nurse-to-patient ratios, and bed numbers. EXPOSURE: Medical error case reporting in newspapers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes to hospital inpatient volume after error reports. RESULTS: The sample comprised 40 case hospitals and 40 control hospitals. Difference-in-differences analyses indicated that newspaper reporting of medical errors was not significantly associated (P = 0.122) with overall inpatient volume. CONCLUSIONS: Medical error case reporting by newspapers showed no influence on inpatient volume. Hospitals therefore have little incentive to respond adequately and proactively to medical errors. There may be a need for government intervention to improve the posterror response and encourage better health care safety.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85021810904&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000349
DO - 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000349
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85021810904
JO - Journal of Patient Safety
JF - Journal of Patient Safety
SN - 1549-8417
ER -