Healthcare providers should use open communication when disclosing medical errors to limit adverse outcomes such as healthcare avoidance or loss of trust among patients, according to a study published in BMJ Quality & Safety.
For the study, researchers surveyed 253 Massachusetts residents in 2018 who had experienced a medical error in the past six years. Researchers used six questions to determine whether providers used open communication when sharing these medical errors with respondents.
Among individuals who experienced a medical error three to six years ago, 51 percent reported continued emotional effects, such as depression or feelings of betrayal. Fifty-seven percent said they avoided the clinicians or organizations involved in the error, and 67 percent reported a loss of trust in healthcare.
Respondents who reported the most open communication demonstrated lower rates of persistent sadness, depression or feeling betrayed. Researchers also noted a link between open communication and less avoidance of physicians or healthcare organizations.
The implementation of communication and resolution programs could help healthcare providers have more open conversations with patients to mitigate these adverse effects, researchers concluded.