Risk Management in healthcare: results from a national-level survey and scientometric analysis in Italy

Abstract

Risk management in healthcare, intended as all processes employed to detect, monitor, assess, mitigate, and prevent risks in healthcare facilities and safeguard patient safety, is a crucial component of Italy' National Health Service. Aim of the current study is to assess the role and progress of research and training, in the field of Risk Management. We carried out a scientometric analysis to quantify and describe scientific outputs on Risk Management at the global and national level, over the last forty years; in addiction, we conducted a national-level cross-sectional survey to systematically retrieve and assess research and training activities within Italian postgraduate medical programmes in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine. We report increasing scientific production on Risk Management-related topics from 1980 to 2017 at the global level (12% annual increase rate). Clinical Trials and Systematic reviews/meta-analysis make up for respectively 5% and 6% of global scientific output. Italy ranks 4th for scientific production, after USA, UK and Germany. 88% of Italian postgraduate medical programmes in Hygiene and Preventive medicine research on Risk Management, 42% through international collaborations. The main research themes are Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (97%), analysis of organizational models for safety in healthcare (62%), while training is focused on internships (87%) and academic lectures (73%). While research provides the evidence required to plan, implement and monitor effective interventions in healthcare risk management, training allows its dissemination in a synergic action to promote the value of patient safety and quality of care.

Figura 1.

Totale Produzione scientifica (n. di articoli) sul tema della gestione del rischio clinico (1980-2017)

Figura 2.

Distribuzione percentuale della produzione scientifica complessiva dei cinque termini Mesh nei Paesi europei sul totale della produzione europea. Gli Stati Uniti, da soli, rappresentano circa il 90% del totale della produzione globale.

Figura 3.

Distribuzione della Produzione scientifica, per tema, per decennio e per disegno di studio (% trials clinici e revisioni sistematiche/metanalisi sul totale della produzione scientifica)

Figura 4.

Distribuzione della Produzione scientifica dei termini Mesh Risk Management, Patient Safety, Risk Assessment, Safety Management e Accident Prevention, per categoria di giornale.