WHAT DO PREGNANT PATIENTS THINK OF MEDICAL ERRORS? A STUDY ON 166 SICILIAN PREGNANT WOMEN

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to assess, through a structured questionnaire, the experience of a group of Sicilian pregnant about the adverse event (AE) and, in particular their points of view in case of medical errors. METHODS: The research sample consisted of 166 pregnant women, hying in the province of Catania, with a mean age of 36 years, nulliparous in 20.5% of cases, characterized by low education level and low salary incoming in the 51.8% of the patients examined. All patients were enrolled at the "high risk pregnancy outpatient clinic" of UOC of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Santo Bambino Hospital in Catania (Italy) between January and October 2015. RESULTS: The survey results revealed the presence of a deep crisis in the doctor-patient relationship and the need for its significant and extensive changes: safety, competence and truth should be the main principles of this important relationship. CONCLUSIONS: The truth's claim is essential for the patient, even and especially in the case of medical error.