@article{3f70959ba1814e4da9685aac3719158f,
title = "Occupational Therapists' Perspectives on Practice Errors in Geriatric Practice Settings",
abstract = "Errors occur in health care practice. This study examined occupational therapy practitioner errors in geriatric practice in an effort to understand the phenomenon of errors and practitioners' response. Four focus groups were conducted with 29 therapists in four states. Results revealed factors that were internal or external and technical or moral that contributed to errors. Making errors had an emotional impact on occupational therapy practitioners. Occupational therapists instituted specific tactics to cope with emotional responses caused by making errors. Findings of the study have significant implications to current occupational therapy practice and professional training programs such as reexamining regulations and policies, strengthening communication skill training, facilitating collaborative team-work and encouraging truth telling and error disclosure.",
author = "Helene Lohman and Keli Mu and Linda Scheirton",
note = "Funding Information: In 2000, the authors of this article initiated a two-year research project aimed at exploring and understanding the phenomenon of practitioner error in occupational therapy in an effort to reduce practice errors and improve patient safety. The project, Occupational Therapists{\textquoteright} Response to Practitioner Errors, was funded by the Health Future Foundation and gained support from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The study had two phases. During phase I, focus groups were conducted across different states to explore and understand occupational therapists{\textquoteright} perspectives on practice errors. Findings from phase I were used to aid in the development of a survey questionnaire to further examine practice errors in phase II. The practice settings of the project were limited to physical rehabilitation and geriatrics due to the following considerations: (a) practice settings in occupational therapy vary considerably and the nature of practice errors, therefore, differ widely depending on the settings wherein the errors occur; (b) physical rehabilitation and geriatrics represent two of the major occupational therapy practice settings (AOTA, 2000).",
year = "2003",
doi = "10.1300/J148v21n04_02",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "21",
pages = "21--39",
journal = "Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics",
issn = "0270-3181",
publisher = "Informa Healthcare",
number = "4",
}