Medical errors may cause physician stress

AORN Journal, Sept, 2007

Physicians who are involved in a medical error or near miss may experience significant emotional distress and job-related stress, according to a July 17, 2007, news release from Joint Commission Resources. A study of more than 3,100 physicians in the United States and Canada examined the impact of errors on physicians, the barriers physicians perceive in accessing error-related support, and the availability of organizational support services.

Results showed that 92% of the surveyed physicians had been involved with a near miss or a minor or serious error, and approximately half of the respondents reported that the experience increased their job-related stress. Although physicians were more likely to report an increase in job-reLated stress when a serious error was involved, one-third of physicians involved only with near misses also reported increased stress. In addition, physicians involved in errors reported

* anxiety about future errors (61%);

* loss of confidence (44%);

* sleeping difficulties (42%);

* reduced job satisfaction (42%); and

* harm to their reputation (13%).

Although more than 80% of physicians expressed interest in receiving counseling after serious errors, only 10% agreed that health care organizations adequately supported them in coping with error-related stress. Many cited barriers that might prevent them from seeking counseling, including

* the difficulty in taking time off work for counseling (43%);

* the belief that counseling would not be helpful (35%);

* concern that sessions would not be kept confidential if they were sued (35%); and

* concern that their counseling history would be placed in their permanent record (34%).

Additionally, 23% of physicians expressed concern that receiving counseling might increase their malpractice insurance costs, and 18% feared that they would be judged negatively by their peers if they received counseling.

Physicians also indicated that they experienced distress after a serious error when they were dissatisfied with the outcome of the disclosure of the error to the patient. Only 18% of physicians indicated that they had been educated in error disclosure, and 86% expressed interest in receiving this type of training.

Study indicates physicians experience stress following medical errors [news release]. Oak Brook, IL: Joint Commission Resources; July 17, 2007.