Enhancement of patient safety by improved interprofessional communication: Effects on an interprofessional educational workshop on the quality of communication in pediatric care teams

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The quality of interprofessional communication has an important impact on the safety of patients during their care and plays an increasing role in initiatives to reduce medical errors. Up to date there are no studies investigating the effects of an intervention aiming at improving interprofessional communication in the context of patient safety in pediatrics. The Institute of Professionalism and Ethical Practice (IPEP) at the Children‘s Hospital of Harvard Medical School develops an educational interprofessional workshop for pediatric care teams in order to improve the quality of interprofessional communication in the context of patient safety. From the perspective of health services research this is a complex intervention which will be evaluated in an exploratory trial. The 2-year fellowship will enable the independent planning, realization and analysis of this study. Specifically the feasibility and the acceptance by participants will be investigated. Further, meaningful and relevant outcome variables regarding communication and patient safety will be developed and tested.This study is an important prerequisite for further randomized-controlled trials investigating the efficiency and efficacy of the intervention and a possible implementation in routine care. Qualitative and quantitative interview methods as well as observational methods will be applied.If feasibility and acceptance prove to be positive the intervention will be further developed and adapted to local and cultural conditions in Germany.