Trends in Medical Imaging Safety Incidents: A Retrospective Analysis of Contributing Factors

Objectives: Patient safety is a cornerstone of healthcare quality, with incident reporting systems essential for fostering a safety culture. Despite the critical role of medical imaging, safety incidents remain a persistent challenge. This study analyzes trends and contributing factors in imaging sa...

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Main Authors: Ibrahim P. Hussin, Sumayah Jaha, Fahad M. Al Mutairi, Mubarak K. Hilaby, Ayman Ahmad, Yasser H. Hadi, Marites C. Hussin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-04-01
Series:Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/DSHMJ.DSHMJ_11_25
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author Ibrahim P. Hussin
Sumayah Jaha
Fahad M. Al Mutairi
Mubarak K. Hilaby
Ayman Ahmad
Yasser H. Hadi
Marites C. Hussin
author_facet Ibrahim P. Hussin
Sumayah Jaha
Fahad M. Al Mutairi
Mubarak K. Hilaby
Ayman Ahmad
Yasser H. Hadi
Marites C. Hussin
author_sort Ibrahim P. Hussin
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: Patient safety is a cornerstone of healthcare quality, with incident reporting systems essential for fostering a safety culture. Despite the critical role of medical imaging, safety incidents remain a persistent challenge. This study analyzes trends and contributing factors in imaging safety incidents utilizing electronic occurrence variance reporting (OVR) data to identify patterns and recommend improvements. Methods: Data from the medical imaging department of a tertiary medical center’s OVR system were analyzed for incidents reported between 2021 and 2023. Incidents were categorized into four types: staff-related, equipment-related, intravenous access and administration–related, and patient-related events. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics to assess the frequencies and types of incidents, Pearson’s correlation to evaluate the relationship between incident frequency and severity, and a one-sample t-test to identify changes in incident frequency over the study period. Results: Staff-related incidents declined from 76.47% in 2021 to 61.54% in 2023 (P = 0.02), whereas equipment-related incidents increased significantly from 10.29% to 24.62% (P = 0.03). Miscommunication emerged as the primary factor in staff-related incidents. While statistical analysis showed no significant correlation between incident frequency and severity (P = 0.536), a significant difference in incident frequency across the years was observed (P = 0.009). The rise in minor and moderate risk levels over time highlights the need for targeted risk management strategies. Conclusion: By analyzing trends in medical imaging safety incidents, this study provides actionable strategies to minimize risks and improve patient safety. Sustained efforts in communication, process optimization, and the cultivation of a safety-oriented culture are critical for preventing future incidents.
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spelling doaj-art-bb0bd65f73404bc488dcded8308c0eec2025-08-21T05:12:37ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsDr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Journal2666-819X2590-33492025-04-017210110710.4103/DSHMJ.DSHMJ_11_25Trends in Medical Imaging Safety Incidents: A Retrospective Analysis of Contributing FactorsIbrahim P. HussinSumayah JahaFahad M. Al MutairiMubarak K. HilabyAyman AhmadYasser H. HadiMarites C. HussinObjectives: Patient safety is a cornerstone of healthcare quality, with incident reporting systems essential for fostering a safety culture. Despite the critical role of medical imaging, safety incidents remain a persistent challenge. This study analyzes trends and contributing factors in imaging safety incidents utilizing electronic occurrence variance reporting (OVR) data to identify patterns and recommend improvements. Methods: Data from the medical imaging department of a tertiary medical center’s OVR system were analyzed for incidents reported between 2021 and 2023. Incidents were categorized into four types: staff-related, equipment-related, intravenous access and administration–related, and patient-related events. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics to assess the frequencies and types of incidents, Pearson’s correlation to evaluate the relationship between incident frequency and severity, and a one-sample t-test to identify changes in incident frequency over the study period. Results: Staff-related incidents declined from 76.47% in 2021 to 61.54% in 2023 (P = 0.02), whereas equipment-related incidents increased significantly from 10.29% to 24.62% (P = 0.03). Miscommunication emerged as the primary factor in staff-related incidents. While statistical analysis showed no significant correlation between incident frequency and severity (P = 0.536), a significant difference in incident frequency across the years was observed (P = 0.009). The rise in minor and moderate risk levels over time highlights the need for targeted risk management strategies. Conclusion: By analyzing trends in medical imaging safety incidents, this study provides actionable strategies to minimize risks and improve patient safety. Sustained efforts in communication, process optimization, and the cultivation of a safety-oriented culture are critical for preventing future incidents.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/DSHMJ.DSHMJ_11_25incident reportingmedical imagingpatient safetyradiologyrisk management
spellingShingle Ibrahim P. Hussin
Sumayah Jaha
Fahad M. Al Mutairi
Mubarak K. Hilaby
Ayman Ahmad
Yasser H. Hadi
Marites C. Hussin
Trends in Medical Imaging Safety Incidents: A Retrospective Analysis of Contributing Factors
Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Journal
incident reporting
medical imaging
patient safety
radiology
risk management
title Trends in Medical Imaging Safety Incidents: A Retrospective Analysis of Contributing Factors
title_full Trends in Medical Imaging Safety Incidents: A Retrospective Analysis of Contributing Factors
title_fullStr Trends in Medical Imaging Safety Incidents: A Retrospective Analysis of Contributing Factors
title_full_unstemmed Trends in Medical Imaging Safety Incidents: A Retrospective Analysis of Contributing Factors
title_short Trends in Medical Imaging Safety Incidents: A Retrospective Analysis of Contributing Factors
title_sort trends in medical imaging safety incidents a retrospective analysis of contributing factors
topic incident reporting
medical imaging
patient safety
radiology
risk management
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/DSHMJ.DSHMJ_11_25
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