Healthcare professionals' experiences of reviewers' conduct during incident reviews at public hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa. (2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nkosi, Elizabeth Malefu; Armstrong, Sue; Nkosi-Mafutha, Nokuthula
• Is Part Of: International journal of Africa nursing sciences. Volume 15(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021
• Subjects: Conduct -- Experiences -- Healthcare professionals -- Incident -- Incident review -- Public hospital -- Reviewer; Nursing -- Africa -- Periodicals; Midwifery -- Africa -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Africa -- Periodicals; Nurses -- Africa -- Periodicals; Students, Nursing -- Africa -- Periodicals; Midwifery -- Africa -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610.73096
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijans.2021.100349
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-1391

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: To gain an understanding of the healthcare professionals' experiences of the reviewers conduct during incident reviews at specific public hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa. Background: Incident reviews are undertaken as quality improvement initiatives in healthcare settings. These reviews consist of a panel of dedicated team of reviewers who schedule a session to determine the sequence of events following an adverse event, identifying nursing care and system problems, the factors that contributed, make recommendations and create plans towards amendments. Methods: A qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological, and contextual research design was used. Twelve professional nurses and one medical doctor with psychiatrist qualifications from the public hospitals were purposively selected. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews which were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data was analysed using thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke (2006). Results: The reviewers conduct were negatively experienced before, during and after the reviews. The participants highlighted that reviewer empathy, which is non-judgmental and non-punitive during the reviewing process was imperative to create learning opportunities and prevent further adverse events. Conclusion: A confrontational insensitive review session promoted the repeat of adverse events and a decline in quality nursing care. The findings provided a foundation for recommendation for reviewer empathy, sensitivity, a positive and professional conduct during the conduct of reviews.