TY - JOUR
T1 - Prospective risk analysis of health care processes : a systematic evaluation of the use of HFMEA in Dutch health care
AU - Habraken, M.M.P.
AU - Schaaf, van der, T.W.
AU - Leistikow, I.P.
AU - Reijnders-Thijssen, P.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (HFMEA™) in Dutch health care by means of user feedback. Thirteen HFMEA™ analyses of various health care processes were successfully concluded and on average took 69 person-hours (excluding reporting). These results show that HFMEA™ can successfully be applied in Dutch health care. However, the user feedback also uncovered several perceived drawbacks, such as the fact that HFMEA™ is very time-consuming and that, particularly, the risk assessment part of HFMEA™ is difficult to carry out. Moreover, a lack of guidance with regard to the identification of failure mode causes and effective actions might influence the quality of the outcomes of an HFMEA™ analysis. Several suggestions are put forward to improve the perceived utility and acceptance of HFMEA™. Nevertheless, future research is necessary to evaluate the actual effects of these recommendations. Error modelling and risk analysis, and their contribution to explaining human performance in socio-technical systems, traditionally belong to the field of ergonomics. The user feedback on HFMEA™ and the suggestions that are put forward may also be useful for (H)FMEA and hazard analysis and critical control point applications in sectors other than health care.
AB - The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (HFMEA™) in Dutch health care by means of user feedback. Thirteen HFMEA™ analyses of various health care processes were successfully concluded and on average took 69 person-hours (excluding reporting). These results show that HFMEA™ can successfully be applied in Dutch health care. However, the user feedback also uncovered several perceived drawbacks, such as the fact that HFMEA™ is very time-consuming and that, particularly, the risk assessment part of HFMEA™ is difficult to carry out. Moreover, a lack of guidance with regard to the identification of failure mode causes and effective actions might influence the quality of the outcomes of an HFMEA™ analysis. Several suggestions are put forward to improve the perceived utility and acceptance of HFMEA™. Nevertheless, future research is necessary to evaluate the actual effects of these recommendations. Error modelling and risk analysis, and their contribution to explaining human performance in socio-technical systems, traditionally belong to the field of ergonomics. The user feedback on HFMEA™ and the suggestions that are put forward may also be useful for (H)FMEA and hazard analysis and critical control point applications in sectors other than health care.
U2 - 10.1080/00140130802578563
DO - 10.1080/00140130802578563
M3 - Article
C2 - 19562591
SN - 0014-0139
VL - 52
SP - 809
EP - 819
JO - Ergonomics
JF - Ergonomics
IS - 7
ER -
