Attempts to increase patients’ role and participation in health care processes in Lithuania
Since the October 2009 the Foundation for Patient Safety, Innovations and Quality (the Foundation) with the support of U.S. Embassy in Luthuania has been implementing the project aimed at reproducing and adapting the Initiative of the Joint Commission (the JC) “Speak up”.
The main goal of the “Speak up” Initiative is to urge patients to take a role in preventing health care errors by becoming active, involved and informed participants of the health care team. In frames of this Initiative The JC prepared brochures, posters and buttons on a variety of patients safety topics (currently there is prepared material on 13 topics).
According to the survey of the JC conducted in 2008, more than 80 percent respondents rated the program as excellent or good. Many of them reported that the program has promoted and increased communication with both patients and staff about safety.
The Foundation picked 6 topics which are according to the experts of the Foundation most relevant for current Lithuanian health care context: Five Things You Can Do to Prevent Infections; Help Prevent Errors in Your Care; Help Avoid Mistakes With Your Medicines; Prevent Errors in Your Child's Care; Help Prevent Medical Test Mistakes; Help Avoid Mistakes in Your Surgery. The chosen material in frames of above mentioned topics was translated into Lithuanian language and adapted in regard to Lithuanian health care context. The prepared material was also designed according to original „Speak up“ design.
At the moment the prepared material is discussed with health care professionals: kind of focus groups are organized in order to clarify their opinion and reactions toward that material; similar meeting is going to be organized also with patients. After collecting the comments both from health care professionals and from patients the material will be adjusted, improved and places on the website of the Foundation for free download and further use as well as distributed through other channels to patients.
For more information:
Erika Matuizaite
The Foundation for Patient Safety, Innovations and Quality
Ph.: +370 5 212 44 18
Mob.: +370 6 9999962
http://www.pacientufondas.lt
