ESRC Centre for Analysis of Risk and Regulation, London School of Economics, London, UK.
J Health Organ Manag. 2010;24(6):584-96. doi: 10.1108/14777261011088674.
This paper aims to clarify the potential to use data on doctors and fitness to practise (FTP) cases held by the UK General Medical Council (GMC) for wider regulatory purposes, such as identifying risk factors. The paper aims to concentrate on how data are shaped by the GMC's functions and organisational concerns, and by the configuration and use of their electronic database.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The GMC provided samples of their data, access to documentation surrounding the configuration and use of the database, and meetings with staff able to provide background on the database, GMC procedures, and the GMC as an organisation.
The FTP database is designed to process cases within complex legal rules, and to provide for accountability. The database and its use are adapted to these purposes. Attempts to use it for other purposes are likely to find it difficult to use, the scope and quality of data uneven and some codes unsuitable. The register data are very narrow in scope. While combining register and FTP data to identify risk factors is by itself of limited value, the database can contribute to closer study of risks to patient safety from poorly performing doctors.
RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The research was exploratory. It provides initial insights and the basis for further research.
The data have potential policy use for the GMC, but it is essential to understand the limitations.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The paper examines previously unanalysed influences on the GMC's data. It also develops new angles on questions in the regulation literature about organisational risks and the creation of risk data.
本文旨在阐明利用英国医学总会（GMC）持有的医生和行医能力（FTP）案例数据来实现更广泛的监管目的的潜力，例如识别风险因素。本文旨在集中讨论数据如何受到 GMC 职能和组织关注、数据库的配置和使用以及他们电子数据库的配置和使用的影响。
设计/方法/途径：GMC 提供了他们数据的样本，提供了有关数据库配置和使用的文件访问权限，并与能够提供数据库、GMC 程序和 GMC 作为组织背景信息的工作人员进行了会议。
FTP 数据库旨在处理复杂法律规则内的案例，并提供问责制。数据库及其使用适应这些目的。尝试将其用于其他目的可能会发现其难以使用，数据的范围和质量参差不齐，并且某些代码不适用。登记数据的范围非常狭窄。虽然将登记数据和 FTP 数据结合起来识别风险因素本身的价值有限，但数据库可以为更密切地研究表现不佳的医生对患者安全的风险做出贡献。
研究局限性/影响：该研究具有探索性。它提供了初步的见解和进一步研究的基础。
这些数据对 GMC 具有潜在的政策用途，但必须了解其局限性。
原创性/价值：本文探讨了对 GMC 数据有影响的先前未分析的因素。它还为监管文献中关于组织风险和风险数据创建的问题提供了新的角度。
