Background: Approximately 10% of hospitalized patients suffer an adverse event during their hospital stay. An important proportion of subjects also feel that they have a high risk of suffering such an event during an eventual hospitalization.
Aim: To determine the perception on clinical safety among patients discharged from a hospital.
Material and methods: A questionnaire about hospital safety was mailed to 1300 patients discharged from a hospital. The questionnaire was analyzed using construct validity predictive validity and Cronbach Alpha for internal consistency.
Results: The questionnaire was answered by 384 patients, yielding a response rate of 29%. Of these, 77 incomplete answers were discarded. Thirty-one subjects (10%) reported a possible adverse event. In 19 cases (5.8%), it was due to medication errors and in 19 (6.1%), to surgical procedures. In seven cases (2.3%), both errors coincided (2.3%). According to the predictive validity of the questionnaire, if a patient reports an adverse event, the confidence in the hospital and in the professionals is reduced (p <0.001), communication with the physician is considered inappropriate (p =0.0001) and risk perception increases (p =0.003). Unsatisfied patients are those that believe that they have higher risks of suffering a medical error (p =0.005).
Conclusions: Risk perception for adverse events increases after having suffered such an event. Patient satisfaction minimizes the effects of adverse events on their confidence and attitude.