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.