Communicating adverse events and interprofessional collaboration in an intensive care unit: between the ideal and (non)practice

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate interprofessional communication and reporting adverse events as a patient care and safety strategy in an intensive care unit. We conducted a qualitative descriptive with 31 health professionals working in an adult intensive care unit using individual interviews. The data was analyzed using content analysis, resulting in two core thematic categories: a) Interprofessional collaboration and communication potential; b) Barriers, impediments and weaknesses, encompassing views of interprofessional collaboration, strategies for putting collaboration into practice, reporting weaknesses, fear, and lack of knowledge. The professionals demonstrated that communication is important for interprofessional reporting of adverse events; however, they need to unite with each other and managers to build a culture of safety and mitigate fears and lack of knowledge of procedures and facilitators.