Association Between Physician Characteristics and Surgical Errors in U.S. Hospitals

Association Between Physician Characteristics and Surgical Errors in U.S. Hospitals by Obumneke Amadi-Nwada MPH, Kaplan University, 2014 BSc, Washington Adventist University, 2012 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Public Health Walden University February, 2017 Abstract The high incidence of medical and surgical errors in U.S. hospitals and clinics affects patients’ safety. Not enough is known about the relationship between physician characteristics and medical error rates. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between selected physician characteristics and surgical errors in U.S. hospitals. The ecological model was used to understand personal and systemic factors that might be related to the incidence of surgical errors. Archived data from the National Practitioner Data Bank database of physician surgical errors were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Independent variables included physicians’ home state, state of license, field of license, age group, and graduation year group. The dependent variable was surgical medical errors. Physicians’ field of license and state of license were significantly associated with surgical error. Findings contribute to the knowledge base regarding the relationship between physician characteristics and surgical medical errors, and findings may be used to improve patient safety and medical care.The high incidence of medical and surgical errors in U.S. hospitals and clinics affects patients’ safety. Not enough is known about the relationship between physician characteristics and medical error rates. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between selected physician characteristics and surgical errors in U.S. hospitals. The ecological model was used to understand personal and systemic factors that might be related to the incidence of surgical errors. Archived data from the National Practitioner Data Bank database of physician surgical errors were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Independent variables included physicians’ home state, state of license, field of license, age group, and graduation year group. The dependent variable was surgical medical errors. Physicians’ field of license and state of license were significantly associated with surgical error. Findings contribute to the knowledge base regarding the relationship between physician characteristics and surgical medical errors, and findings may be used to improve patient safety and medical care. Association Between Physician Characteristics and Surgical Errors in U.S. Hospitals by Obumneke Amadi-Nwada MPH, Kaplan University, 2014 BSc, Washington Adventist University, 2012 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Public Health Walden University February, 2017 Dedication I dedicate this project to late Chief, Sir. Reuben Amadi, my father, educator, advisor, motivator, and model who taught me the values of hard work and who raised all his children to be decently behaved and skilled professionals in diverse disciplines. Acknowledgments With honor, humility, and pride, I would like to thank God for his guidance and courage through my academic journey. I wish to acknowledge and extend my warm gratefulness to my daughter, Sapphire Onuoha, my husband, and my family for giving me their time, understanding, and endurance to do the program. I am thankful to my mother, Lolo, Lady Dorothy Amadi, who taught me the skill of patience to reach a goal. Specifically, my sincere thanks go to my doctoral study chair and mentor, Dr. Richard Jimenez. I want to thank my other doctoral study committee members, Dr. Chester Jones and the University Research Reviewer Dr. Simone Salandy, for believing in my study and helping it to come to a realization. Dr. Jimenez provided rapid, significant feedback and revision suggestions that made the doctoral study process less stressful. Also, I want to thank the Walden University faculty, staff, and instructors for the support I received from them throughout my educational process. Many thanks to my peers who advised me in the various courses and helped me achieve my goal. Finally, I also thank my editors who worked with me and helped keep my confidence thriving.