Table 2.

Personal experience of patient safety

	Primary care (N=597)					Hospitals (N=439)
In the previous 5 years	Doctors	%	Nurses	%	P=	Doctors	%	Nurses	%	P=
In my hospital, I know of cases that could be considered near misses (incidents that could have led to serious adverse events but which were corrected in time).	251	75.6	207	78.1	0.533	193	92.3	216	93.9	0.645
I know of cases of adverse events with serious consequences for one of more patients.	174	52.4	105	39.6	0.002	168	80.4	148	64.3	0.001
I have been personally involved in informing patients who have suffered an adverse event (or their relatives)	155	46.7	66	24.9	0.001	133	63.6	66	28.7	0.001
I know of cases of professionals who have suffered emotionally after an AE in a patient.	223	67.2	158	54.9	0.008	162	77.5	184	68.7	0.140
I know of cases of health professionals who have had work-related problems due to an AE.	99	29.8	72	27.2	0.535	64	30.6	64	27.8	0.590
In your experience, what happens when a patient who has suffered an adverse event is informed?*
The patients accepts the explanation given	239	84.8	179	87.3	0.503	168	91.8	164	84.1	0.033
The relationship with the patient worsens	77	27.5	50	25	0,612	36	19.8	63	32.8	0.006
The patient files a formal complaint	28	10.1	34	16.8	0.043	45	25.1	42	22.6	0.652
The patient responds aggressively	39	14.1	36	17.7	0.345	21	11.9	37	19.9	0.052

*Only doctors and nurses who had the experience. They are not mutually exclusive answers.

Frequency of patient safety incidents and impact on second victims.