Figure 3. Analytic framework and conceptual model of patient safety from the evidence report "The Effect of Health Care Working Conditions on Patient Safety." Top. An analytic framework with the linkages between antecedent factors (generally not modifiable), work environment conditions (which can either impede or improve work quality, and are therefore denoted as "demands" or "resources"), and the resultant influence on patient safety and outcomes. Bottom. Conceptual model of patient safety derived from several sources. The research team used these representations to develop a series of research questions focusing on the effects of the 5 categories of working conditions on patient outcomes related to patient safety, rate of medical error, rate of error recognition, and probability of adverse events. For example, one key question of this review was the following: Does the complexity of the plan of care influence whether working conditions affect patient outcomes that are related to patient safety? An asterisk denotes where this key question fits in the conceptual framework.

Return to article