Identifying patient safety research priorities in Estonia: results of a Delphi consensus study

Abstract

<p>Patient safety research aims to create new knowledge and find evidence-based solutions to improve patient safety and reduce avoidable adverse events in healthcare.<a href="https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/11/3/e001907#ref-1">1</a> More than a decade ago, the WHO recommended that all countries identify, analyse and prioritise areas where patient safety research could reduce avoidable harm and improve healthcare systems.<a href="https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/11/3/e001907#ref-2">2</a> However, only a few articles about this topic have been published,<a href="https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/11/3/e001907#ref-3">3–6</a> and only one examined research priorities for patient safety at the national level.<a href="https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/11/3/e001907#ref-6">6</a></p><p>The Patient Safety Research and Development Centre (PSR&DC) at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Tartu plays a national role in introducing research-based patient safety practices in Estonia. Its work group previously identified patient safety research in Estonia as limited, fragmented and unsystematic.<a href="https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/11/3/e001907#ref-7">7</a> There is not enough reliable information to support patient safety practices in the Estonian healthcare system. As a part of the Patient Safety Research and Development Strategy 2022–2026 by PSR&DC, this study aimed to collect expert judgements and determine a consensus for patient safety research priorities in Estonia.</p>