Critical incident reporting in UK intensive care units: a postal survey.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To review critical incident reporting in UK intensive care units (ICUs).

METHODS

We conducted a postal survey of clinical directors of UK ICUs to ask if critical incident reporting was used in their ICU. Using a structured questionnaire, we also asked for details of critical incident reporting systems and for changes introduced as a result of incident reporting.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Eighty-six of a total of 256 questionnaires were returned. Sixty-one units had been using a critical incident reporting system for a median duration of 3 years (interquartile range 2-5 years). There were wide variations in the structures of reporting systems between units. A median of four (interquartile range 3-8) critical incidents were reported per unit per month. In 141 changes, the development of protocols and guidelines (18) and changes in drug prescription and checking (20) were most common. A more consistent approach to reporting could improve patient care and 65 responders felt that a national reporting system was potentially useful.