ABSTRACT
Background: Approximately 10 percent of hospitalized patients suffer an adverse event during their hospital stay. An important proportion of subjects also feel that they have a high risk of suffering such an event during an eventual hospitalization. Aim: To determine the perception on clinical safety among patients discharged from a hospital. Material and methods: A questionnaire about hospital safety was mailed to 1300 patients discharged from a hospital. The questionnaire was analyzed using construct validity predictive validity and Cronbach Alpha for internal consistency Results: The questionnaire was answered by 384 patients, yielding a response rate of 29 percent. Of these, 77 incomplete answers were discarded. Thirty-one subjects (10 percent) reported a possible adverse event. In 19 cases (5.8 percent), it was due to medication errors and in 19 (6.1 percent), to surgical procedures. In seven cases (2.3 percent), both errors coincided (2.3 percent). According to the predictive validity of the questionnaire, if a patient reports an adverse event, the confidence in the hospital and in the professionals is reduced (p <0.001), communication with the physician is considered inappropriate (p =0.0001) and risk perception increases (p =0.003). Unsatisfied patients are those that believe that they have higher risks of suffering a medical error (p =0.005). Conclusions: Risk perception for adverse events increases after having suffered such an event. Patient satisfaction minimizes the effects of adverse events on their confidence and attitude.