Developing a patient safety incident classification system for primary care. A literature review and Delphi-survey by the LINNEAUS collaboration on patient safety in primary care

BACKGROUND Despite awareness that comparative analysis of patient safety data from several data sources would promote risk reduction, there has been little effort to establish an incident classification system that is generally applicable to patient safety data in European primary care. OBJECTIVE To describe the development of a patient safety incident classification system for primary care. METHODS A systematic review was followed by an expert group discussion and a modified Delphi survey, to provide consensus statements. RESULTS We developed a classification system providing a mechanism for classifying patient safety incidents across Europe, taking into account the varying organizational arrangements that exist for primary care. It takes into account organizational processes and outcomes related to patient safety incidents and can supplement existing classification systems. CONCLUSION Classification systems are key tools in the analysis of patient safety incidents. A system that has relevance for primary care is now available.