Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective to describe the meaning attributed to the use of a game as an educational technology for the involvement of companions in pediatric patient safety. Method a qualitative study carried out with 16 companions of children admitted to the Pediatric Unit of the public hospital in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data collection took place from October to December 2019, through semi-structured interviews, after using the game as an educational technology. Symbolic Interactionism was used as the theoretical framework and Inductive Content Analysis, as the method. Results playing the game in search of patient safety was an important strategy for sharing knowledge and co-responsibility for the companions to engage in the pediatric patient safety actions, in addition to a relevant contribution to the prevention of adverse events. On the other hand, the professionals' overload and communication problems stood out as barriers to the establishment of a bond among the health team members and, consequently, the involvement of the companions in patient safety. Conclusion the companions recognized themselves as partners in the prevention of adverse events and highlighted some behavioral changes in favor of patient safety after participating in the playful intervention. Thus, it is considered that the game can be an important and interactive strategy for disseminating information to companions and family members and, consequently, favoring the increased participation of these actors in patient safety actions.
Highlights
Patient Safety (PS) is a relevant topic in the health area, implying the development of policies aimed at improving clinical practice and reformulating health education actions
The study participants emphasized that the game contributed to increasing their knowledge about patient safety, as it enabled understanding the care provided to their children and how they could collaborate with the health professionals to ensure the safety of children hospitalized in pediatrics
[...] I found the game very interesting because it brings up themes and discussions that aren’t present in our daily lives, and that are common at this hospitalization moment (A5)
Summary
Patient Safety (PS) is a relevant topic in the health area, implying the development of policies aimed at improving clinical practice and reformulating health education actions. Adverse events can occur at any health care level, especially in Pediatrics, in which the physical and functional characteristics of the child predispose to their occurrence. A Brazilian study carried out in a large-size hospital in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, comprising 334 observations referring to the preparation and administration of medications, found that, in 100% of the observations, a breach of at least one safety barrier occurred throughout the process: 81.4% of the times during the drug preparation phase and 76.3% at the time of administration[2,5]. Another study conducted in an Australian pediatric hospital identified 3,340 medication errors over a five-year period, of which 83.3% were due to communication failures. In 15% of these cases, the patients and family members warned the health professionals about medication errors[6]
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