Table 2

Thirteen primary care contributing factors to patient safety incidents and their relation to the YCFF and patient identified contributing factors to safety from a hospital setting

Thirteen contributing factors to patient safety incidents in primary careBrief definitionContributory factor in YCFFContributory identified by patients in hospital setting*Unique to this study
1. CommunicationEffectiveness of the exchange and sharing of information between primary-care staff and patients†✓✓
2. AccessAbility to receive timely access to primary care✓
3. Patient factorsPatient personality, preferences, health status, experience or other individual characteristic that influences safety✓✓
4. External policy contextNational primary-care system, structures and policies that impact on the delivery of care and resources available†✓
5. Dignity and respectAssociated with patients feeling comfortable, in control and valued✓
6. Primary–secondary interfaceThe transition between primary and secondary care. Adequate communication and information sharing is necessary to prevent harm✓
7. Continuity of careConnection over time with the same primary-care professional✓
8. Task performanceSkill and competence of primary-care professional when carrying out a task✓
9. Task characteristicsFactors related to tasks that make patients vulnerable to error.† Patient identified examples include care coordination and information management, prescribing medication and decision making ability✓
10. Time in the consultationHaving enough time to undertake all necessary tasks during the consultation✓
11. Safety culturePrimary care organisation’s values, beliefs and practices regarding the management of safety and learning from error†✓
12. Team factorsAny factor related to the working of different professionals within a group, which they may be able to change to improve patient safety†✓✓
13. Physical environmentFeatures of the physical environment that help or hinder safe practice†✓✓

  • *Patient identified factors that contribute to safety in a hospital setting based on the YCFF.4

  • †Definition adapted from or consistent with the YCFF.

  • YCFF, Yorkshire Contributory Factors Framework.17