Parental preferences with regards to disclosure following adverse events occurring in relation to medication use or diagnosis in the care of their children – perspectives from Malaysia
- Author:
Chin Hoong Wong
;
Tock Rei Tan
;
Hian Yue Heng
;
Thangatorai Ramesh
;
Pey Woei Ting
;
Wei Shien Lee, Cheong Lieng Teng
;
Nalliah Sivalingam
;
Kah Kee Tan
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Parents;
medical error;
diagnosis;
children;
disclosure
- MeSH:
Disclosure;
Professional-Patient Relations;
Patient Rights
- From:
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
2016;71(4):186-192
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: Open disclosure is poorly understood in
Malaysia but is an ethical and professional responsibility.
The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) the
perception of parents regarding the severity of medical error
in relation to medication use or diagnosis; (2) the preference
of parents for information following the medical error and its
relation to severity; and (3) the preference of parents with
regards to disciplinary action, reporting, and legal action.
Methods: We translated and contextualised a questionnaire
developed from a previous study. The questionnaire
consisted of four case vignettes that described the
following: medication error with a lifelong complication;
diagnostic error with a lifelong complication; diagnostic
error without lifelong effect; and medication error without
lifelong effect. Each case vignette was followed by a series
of questions examining the subject’s perception on the
above areas. We also determined the content validity of the
questionnaire. We invited parents of Malaysian children
admitted to the paediatric wards of Tuanku Jaafar Hospital to
participate in the study.
Results: One hundred and twenty-three parents participated
in the study. The majority of parents wanted to be told
regarding the event. As the severity of the case vignettes
increased, the desire for information, remedial action,
acknowledgement of responsibility, compensation,
punishment, legal action, and reporting to a higher agency
also increased. The findings did not have strong evidence of
a relationship with subject’s demographics.
Conclusion: This study gives insights into previously
unexplored perspectives and preferences of parents in
Malaysia regarding open disclosure. It also highlights the
opportunity for more research in this area with potentially
broad applications.
- Full text:P020161107370850951198.pdf
