Conference presentation
Disclosure and Non-Disclosure of Clinical Errors and Unethical Behaviour: The impact on midwives in Australia
2010 University Research Conference Program Book, p.8
USC Research Conference, 2010 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 08-Nov-2010–10-Nov-2010)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2010
Abstract
Learning from error is an important way to improve safety over time, and institutional culture impacts on disclosure of information. 'Whistleblowing' is the act of revealing 'something covert' or 'informing against another', or identifying an incompetent, unethical, or illegal situation in the workplace and reporting it to someone who may have the power to stop the wrong. While advocacy is sometimes seen as a positive form of disclosure, whistleblowing is usually viewed unfavourably, and in some professional and workplace cultures is taboo. Midwives and mental health nurses in Australia were asked if they had ever reported their concerns about their own or a colleague's behaviour, and why they had either reported or not reported the incident. The study received approval from an Institutional Ethics Committee, participants were recruited through networking with professional organisations and colleagues, and data were collected over six months (October 2008-May 2009). Three hundred and fifty-four midwives and thirty-three mental health nurses completed an e-questionnaire on one occasion, and follow-up semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with 98 of those participants (88 midwives and 10 mental health nurses). Descriptive statistics compared and contrasted between and within-group differences in the survey, and thematic analysis examined the narrative responses for cognitive and emotional impact of disclosure on clinicians. Survey results reveal that clinician's reporting is influenced by workplace context and culture, clinician context and culture, and clinician intent and behaviour. Participant narratives tell us that the major deterrents to reporting mistakes and poor behaviour, for both groups, are fear of retribution, impossible to prove, and no action would be taken. Implications: (i) Whilst organisations have reporting processes, risk management strategies depend on disclosure of incidents and unethical behaviours: 'fear of retribution' is a major deterrent. (ii) We need to dismantle the 'blame' culture that focuses on individuals and develop systems and cultures which support rather than punish ethical practitioners. (iii) Finally, we need to promote disclosure as a positive practice, and gain consumer confidence in us as ethical clinicians.
Details
- Title
- Disclosure and Non-Disclosure of Clinical Errors and Unethical Behaviour: The impact on midwives in Australia
- Authors
- Faye Thompson (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- 2010 University Research Conference Program Book, p.8
- Conference details
- USC Research Conference, 2010 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 08-Nov-2010–10-Nov-2010)
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Date published
- 2010
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449308402621
- Output Type
- Conference presentation
Metrics
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