RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Patient Reports of Preventable Problems and Harms in Primary Health Care JF The Annals of Family Medicine JO Ann Fam Med FD American Academy of Family Physicians SP 333 OP 340 DO 10.1370/afm.220 VO 2 IS 4 A1 Anton J. Kuzel A1 Steven H. Woolf A1 Valerie J. Gilchrist A1 John D. Engel A1 Thomas A. LaVeist A1 Charles Vincent A1 Richard M. Frankel YR 2004 UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/2/4/333.abstract AB BACKGROUND Despite recent attention given to medical errors, little is known about the kinds and importance of medical errors in primary care. The principal aims of this study were to develop patient-focused typologies of medical errors and harms in primary care settings and to discern which medical errors and harms seem to be the most important. METHODS Thirty-eight in-depth anonymous interviews of adults from rural, suburban, and urban locales in Virginia and Ohio were conducted to solicit stories of preventable problems with primary health care that led to physical or psychological harm. Transcriptions were analyzed to identify, name, and organize the stories of errors and harms. RESULTS The 38 narratives described 221 problematic incidents that predominantly involved breakdowns in the clinician-patient relationship (n = 82, 37%) and access to clinicians (n = 63, 29%). There were several reports of perceived racism. The incidents were linked to 170 reported harms, 70% of which were psychological, including anger, frustration, belittlement, and loss of relationship and trust in one’s clinician. Physical harms accounted for 23% of the total and included pain, bruising, worsening medical condition, and adverse drug reactions. DISCUSSION The errors reported by interviewed patients suggest that breakdowns in access to and relationships with clinicians may be more prominent medical errors than are technical errors in diagnosis and treatment. Patients were more likely to report being harmed psychologically and emotionally, suggesting that the current preoccupation of the patient safety movement with adverse drug events and surgical mishaps could overlook other patient priorities.