Human Factors

As three quarters of all incidents reported to SHOT are related to errors, we would like to understand more about why these occur. Errors in transfusion practice may be related to workplace features. What are the human factors that contribute to errors in transfusion practice?

Patient safety incidents and errors in transfusion can lead to fatal outcomes. Effective investigation of these incidents is essential to optimise learning and take action to prevent further incidents occurring.

New for 2021, we have incorporated and amended The Yorkshire Contributory Factors Framework (YCFF) into our Human Factors Investigation Tool (HFIT). This Framework has an evidence base for optimising learning and addressing causes of patient safety incidents by helping SHOT, clinicians, risk managers and patient safety officers identify contributory factors incidents. It is anticipated that the HFIT questions will take around 15 minutes to complete.

The underlying aim is not to ignore individual accountability for unsafe practice, but to try to develop a more sophisticated understanding of the factors that cause incidents. These factors can then be addressed through changes and recommendations in systems, structures and local working conditions. Finding the true causes of patient safety incidents offers an opportunity to address systemic flaws effectively.

SHOT recognises how difficult it can be for reporters to score the human factors aspects of an incident, so we have prepared this self-learning material. Please click here to access the HFIT training package

New for 2021 we suggest watching 2 short videos produced by SHOT for more information about human factors.

SHOT would like to acknowledge the Yorkshire and Humber Improvement Academy. Creative Commons Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for the YCFF https://improvementacademy.org/about-us/