Safety Terminology Research Articles

Proposed universal definitions for drug safety terminology based on existing ones

Proposed universal definitions for drug safety terminology based on existing ones

Demystifying medication safety: Making sense of the terminology

Background Although there is a growing interest in medication safety, there remains much confusion about the terminology used to describe the problem. Some have described the classification of medication safety terminology as haphazard. Objective The purpose of this commentary is to help provide some direction by clarifying the terminology. Methods A review of the medication safety literature was performed. A description of commonly used terms is provided and the implications of the misuse of terminology are discussed. Results There are inconsistencies in the definitions of commonly used terms that may affect the accuracy of event rates. This may have an adverse impact on the establishment of medication safety priorities and on the validity of cross-jurisdictional comparisons. Conclusions As the medication safety literature continues to expand, it is imperative that standardized terminology be adopted and used consistently.

Beyond Babel: prospects for a universal patient safety taxonomy

In the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel, God foiled man’s attempt to build a tower reaching to the heavens. And the Lord said, ‘Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do ... Come, let us go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech’. Genesis 11: 6–7 Those familiar with the field of patient safety will recognize that confusing language does not, in fact, require divine intervention. In the space of a few years, a bewildering language of medical error and iatrogenic injury has evolved, bedeviling efforts to catalogue and understand this phenomenon. The terminology of safety is perplexing on a good day, and near impossible on a bad one. Consider a few examples of patient safety terms in common use. An ‘adverse reaction’ usually connotes an anticipated side effect of a medication or treatment. It is similar to a ‘complication’ of care. An ‘adverse event’, in contrast, signifies the presence of a medical care-related injury (anticipated or not). However, different users require different levels of harm in order to qualify an incident as an adverse event. A ‘preventable adverse event’ is an error by definition, but it is often difficult to ascertain preventability. A ‘near miss’, also called a ‘close call’, …

Visible and invisible laser radiation—problems in laser safety terminology

The spectral band between 400 and 700 nm is termed “visible” in laser safety standards, this is not the full extent of the visible spectrum. Light, or visible radiation, is that which is perceived by the human eye, and the spectral bandwidth for vision is really larger, extending into what some refer to as ultraviolet and infrared. This is important to recognize when speaking of visual effects such as after-images and glare. Several important questions arise with regard to this issue. The 400–700 nm spectral band was initially established as the extent of the spectral range for class 2 lasers, but should this spectral band be reconsidered? Indeed what laser wavelengths should be considered visible and what should be considered “invisible?”

Risk assessment: A diagnostic self-assessment tool for caterers

Food safety terminology and legislation have changed significantly in the past ten years, requiring a more pro-active approach and a greater understanding from managers and staff in the food industry. This article specifically relates to the Hospitality and Catering sector where food production is predominantly cook-serve. A generic numerical Risk Assessment model based upon epidemiological data is reported which incorporates features of existing models including the Inspection Rating Scheme used by enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom. It has particular value to smaller establishments and those where function trade occurs. The model can assist caterers in the identification of hazards, and the assessment of associated risks in their establishment.