Educational Material

[Article] Patient safety from the perspective of patients and their families: How to implement active engagement

 

Over the last two decades, Patient Safety has become one of the essential pillars of quality healthcare. Since the “To Err Is Human” (Institute of Medicine, 1999) report, which highlighted the magnitude of preventable harm in healthcare systems, organizations have structured their safety programs around protocols, defensive barriers, and stronger organizational culture. However, one critical element remains underutilized: The active involvement of patients and their families.

The World Health Organization (WHO), through its Global Patient Safety Program and the Medication Without Harm campaign, states that patient engagement is one of the most effective strategies for reducing adverse events. Similarly, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) have extensive evidence that informed, empowered patients who are included in decision-making actively participate in preventing errors, identifying risks early, and continuously improving care.

 

This e-book discusses patient and family involvement as a structuring component of risk management and presents practical, evidence-based strategies for implementing an active, safe, and effective participation model.

 

1. The perspectives of patients and their families on patient safety

1.1. Understanding care from lived experience
Literature shows that patients and their families perceive risk factors that are often invisible to healthcare teams. Studies such as that of Masso et al. (2019), published in the International Journal for Quality in Health Care, show that subjective experiences correlate with greater vulnerability to adverse events.

Patients’ perspectives encompass dimensions that go beyond the clinical gaze: fear, trust, understanding, autonomy, and a sense of belonging. From this perspective, safety is not merely the absence of harm, but the guarantee of a transparent, respectful, and responsive care environment that meets individual needs.

 

1.2. Families as strategic partners

The Joint Commission highlights that family members act as “co-detectors” of risks, especially in scenarios of cognitive vulnerability, functional limitations, care transitions, and clinical frailty. The active involvement of family members reduces communication failures, enhances therapeutic adherence, and supports monitoring early signs of clinical deterioration.

 

DOWNLOAD MATERIAL

Click here and check out other content on our website.