Error in patient identification according to cognitive status: comparison between open and closed-ended questions
Abstract
Introduction: Minimizing errors and adverse events is the main component of the technical quality of health services. Patient identification errors or documentation are rare but have important consequences. Professionals attribute part of these errors to patient failure to identify themselves because their cognitive status.
Objective: To quantify the patient identification errors in the group of patients over 75 years old admitted with a diagnosis of hip fracture as well as their relation with the patient's cognitive state and with the type of question used.
Methods: Randomized study with simple blinding. One investigator performed the tests and rating scales of SACYL and the other performed the identification test.
Results: 177 patients met the inclusion and consent criteria. Randomized in 93 patients in the closed-type identification question group and 84 in the open-type question group. 14 patients (7.9%) failed to answer the identification question; the total successes in SPMSQ and Barthel scale score showed significant differences between those who were successful and failed to identify themselves. All patients who failed the identification question had failed 8 or more SPMSQ limit questions marking cognitive impairment.
Conclusions: Although the risk of identification failure is low, its consequences are serious. Our data justifies the use of patient identification devices.
