MORE than eight in 10 Cypriots fear they could be harmed by healthcare, while three out of 10 think this is very likely to occur.
The results were part of a Eurobarometer survey on patient safety and quality of healthcare published on Friday.
According to the survey over 25 per cent of Europeans claimed that they or a family member had experienced harm (adverse effects) in a healthcare setting. On a national level, the countries posting the highest likelihood, across all types of adverse events, are Greece, Cyprus, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.
Many of these events go unreported and one third of respondents did not know which organisation was responsible for patient safety in their country.
In fact the proportion of respondents that are unaware where responsibility lies varies greatly across the EU. As many as half of the respondents in Luxembourg do not have an answer to this question. High levels of unawareness are also found in France, Estonia and Sweden. In Greece and Slovenia on the other hand, more people have an opinion on which body is mainly responsible for patient safety. Low levels of unawareness are also found among respondents from the Netherlands, Cyprus and the Czech Republic.
When asked where they hear or find out about adverse events in healthcare, television receives the highest number of responses as the main information source in most countries, especially Greece, Cyprus and Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Portugal. Greece and Cyprus are also the countries where friends or family is most frequently identified as a source of information.
The study also measured respondents’ perceptions regarding the forms of redress available to them in the event of harm by healthcare in their own country or another member state. In most countries an investigation into the case or financial compensation were identified as the two most expected forms of redress. An investigation into the case was selected most frequently in Finland, Denmark and Cyprus.
The Greeks also feel strongly that having the responsible person disciplined is an available form of redress, followed by Cyprus and the Czech Republic.
Action taken against the responsible healthcare facility is selected most frequently in Italy followed by Cyprus, Greece and Sweden.
An explanation of the causes of wrong treatment is most often selected in Slovenia, Finland and Cyprus. Greece and Cyprus also rank highest for the next two forms of redress: a formal acknowledgement that harm has been caused and having the responsible person disciplined.
EU citizens living in member countries not their own identify their country’s embassy or consulate as their main point of assistance in such cases. Countries where this source receives the highest response rates include Cyprus, Greece and Malta.
The most important criterion for EU citizens, when thinking about quality healthcare, is well-trained medical staff, a characteristic referred to by at least half of respondents. Countries where well trained medical staff is rated as the most important criterion include Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany and Cyprus. Respect of a patient’s dignity is also the highest response amongst Cypriots and the free choice of doctor is also most important to Cypriots.
Action to improve patient safety at European level was stepped up last year through better EU coordination, more reporting of incidents, increased patient involvement and training of staff. The publication of the survey coincides with European Patients Rights Day which is held on April 18 each year with events taking place around Europe to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding the rights of patients. It is organised by the Active Citizenship Network, an NGO which encourages people to become more involved in policy making through citizens’ organisations around Europe. The Commission is working with member states to implement the patient safety recommendation, adopted by the EU Health Ministers in June 2009. The Recommendation is one of the initiatives under the Europe for Patients campaign.
Full report and summary available at: http://ec.europa.eu/health/patient_safety/eurobarometers/index_en.htm
