Discussion # 1 Organizational Behavior Theory for Medical Error Control

Discussion # 1
Organizational behavior theory states that alteration in behaviour can prevent medical errors. Based
on this theory, interventions can be designed to initiate and maintain behaviors for patient safety.
Communication error commonly affects medical care. It depends on several factors such as shortage
of nursing staff, caregiver fatigue etc. Behavioral approaches such as patient education, can improve
the patient- caregiver communication, thereby reducing medical errors (Cunningham & Geller,
2008). High patient to nurse ratio and thereby high workload can lead to increased stress levels in
nurses, resulting in medical errors. Co-worker support and extensive job training can help in
alleviating the stress levels of nurses and thereby improve their performance with reduction in
errors and maintaining patient safety. Well trained nurses will be able to cope up in high demanding
environments. Organizational socialization programs can be designed for healthcare workers, to
reduce the work place stress (Taormina & Law, 2000). Patient satisfaction depends on several factors
such as positive nursing work environment, lower patient to nurse ratio, and positive organizational
behavioral activities like training, and predictable work schedules (Greenslade & Jimmieson, 2011).
Nursing leadership also has a positive outcome with increased patient satisfaction and a lesser rate
of patient mortality (Wong, Cummings & Ducharme, 2013). Thus, organizational behaviour
management provides evidence based strategies to improve the healthcare system (Cunningham &
Geller, 2008).
References:
Cunningham, T., & Geller, S. (2008). Organizational Behavior Management in Health Care:
Applications for Large-Scale Improvements in Patient Safety. In H. Battles, Advances in Patient
Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches (Vol. 2: Culture and Redesign). Rockville: Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Greenslade, J. and Jimmieson, N. (2011). Organizational factors impacting on patient satisfaction: A
cross sectional examination of service climate and linkages to nurses’ effort and
performance. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 48(10), pp.1188-1198.
Taormina and Law (2000). Approaches to preventing burnout: the effects of personal stress
management and organizational socialization. Journal of Nursing Management, 8(2), pp.89-99.
Wong, C., Cummings, G. and Ducharme, L. (2013). The relationship between nursing leadership and
patient outcomes: a systematic review update. Journal of Nursing Management, 21(5), pp.709-724.
Discussion #2
Stroke outcome depends largely on the speed of access to medical services, especially thrombolysis.
Therefore, knowledge about the warning signs and symptoms of stroke play a crucial role in the final
outcome of stroke (Hickey et al., 2009). This awareness about stroke is considerably less in the
general population, particularly the elderly in the age- group of 75 years and above (Hickey et al.,
2009). Generally, people are aware that faster access to treatment will result in better prognosis in
stroke; however, they do not have enough information about the warning signs (Droste, Safo, Metz
& Osada, 2014). Also, the people with a greater stroke risk are the ones with the maximum stroke

knowledge deficit. Stroke is a preventable condition and therefore, understanding the risk factors for
stroke is extremely important (Hickey et al., 2009). The biggest challenge for effective stroke therapy
is lack of recognition of stroke signs and limited knowledge of the risk factors (Schneider et al.,
2003). Sometimes, people may be aware of the risk factors, however, they fail to identify the
warning signs of stroke. Therefore, interventions are required to increase the public awareness
regarding stroke risk factors and warning signs. It is particularly important to emphasize the value of
medical attention at the earliest for better therapeutic outcome (Hickey et al., 2009). An increase in
the knowledge about stroke awareness can be achieved by community based education campaign
(Becker et al., 2001). Recently, there has been an increase in public knowledge about stroke, but
there remains a significant knowledge deficit in the high risk groups. Continued intense public
education needs to be promoted by policy makers (Schneider et al., 2003).
References:
Becker, K., Fruin, M., Gooding, T., Tirschwell, D., Love, P., & Mankowski, T. (2001). Community-Based
Education Improves Stroke Knowledge. Cerebrovascular Diseases, 11(1), 34-43. doi:
10.1159/000047609
Droste, D., Safo, J., Metz, R., & Osada, N. (2014). Stroke Awareness in Luxemburg: Deficit concerning
Symptoms and Risk Factors. Clinical Medicine Insights: Cardiology, 8s2, CMC.S15225. doi:
10.4137/cmc.s15225
Hickey, A., O'Hanlon, A., McGee, H., Donnellan, C., Shelley, E., Horgan, F., & O'Neill, D. (2009). Stroke
awareness in the general population: knowledge of stroke risk factors and warning signs in older
adults. BMC Geriatrics, 9(1). doi: 10.1186/1471-2318-9-35
Schneider, A., Pancioli, A., & Khoury, J., et al. (2003). Trends in Community Knowledge of the
Warning Signs and Risk Factors for Stroke. JAMA, 289(3), 343. doi: 10.1001/jama.289.3.343