National Coroners Information System: a valuable source of lessons for emergency medicine

The utility of medico-legal databases for public health research: a systematic review of peer-reviewed publications using the National Coronial Information System

BACKGROUND

Medico-legal death investigations are a recognised data source for public health endeavours and its accessibility has increased following the development of electronic data systems. Despite time and cost savings, the strengths and limitations of this method and impact on research findings remain untested. This study examines this issue using the National Coronial Information System (NCIS).

METHODS

PubMed, ProQuest and Informit were searched to identify publications where the NCIS was used as a data source for research published during the period 2000-2014. A descriptive analysis was performed to describe the frequency and characteristics of the publications identified. A content analysis was performed to identify the nature and impact of strengths and limitations of the NCIS as reported by researchers.

RESULTS

Of the 106 publications included, 30 reported strengths and limitations, 37 reported limitations only, seven reported strengths only and 32 reported neither. The impact of the reported strengths of the NCIS was described in 14 publications, whilst 46 publications discussed the impacts of limitations. The NCIS was reported to be a reliable source of quality, detailed information with comprehensive coverage of deaths of interest, making it a powerful injury surveillance tool. Despite these strengths, researchers reported that open cases and missing information created the potential for selection and reporting biases and may preclude the identification and control of confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

To ensure research results are valid and inform health policy, it is essential to consider and seek to overcome the limitations of data sources that may have an impact on results.

Benefit of hindsight: systematic analysis of coronial inquest data to inform patient safety in hospitals

Objective The aim of the present study was to explore the potential of coronial inquest data to inform patient safety improvement in hospitals at a system level. Methods A retrospective analysis of 20 years of South Australian (SA) coronial inquest findings was performed using both qualitative content analysis methods and statistical descriptive analyses. Results In all, 113 cases were analysed. More than one-third of deaths (39%) were associated with emergency care. Analysis revealed 11 recurrent themes and two notable contributing factors that highlighted specific areas of concern for SA hospitals over that time period. The most common action recommended by coroners (49.6%; n = 56 cases) was the review or development of policy, protocol, procedure or guidelines designed to improve patient care. In almost one-quarter (24%) of deaths reviewed, coroners alerted health authorities to poor standards of care and/or instructed individual clinicians to review the standard of their clinical practice. Conclusions The analysis provided a retrospective review of coronial inquest data associated with hospital care over a 20-year period. The findings highlight specific areas of concern for patient safety over that time. More broadly, this analysis contributes to an emerging body of evidence in the Australian academic literature that demonstrates the value of systematic analysis of coronial data at a system level to inform patient safety improvement in Australian healthcare. What is known about the topic? Australian coroners have an important role to play in public health and safety. Many areas of social inquiry across Australia use coronial inquest data to identify recurrent hazards and assist in the development of relevant social policy. However, there is very little research reported in the academic literature that associates analyses of coronial data with patient safety improvement in healthcare. Although coronial recommendations made from individual cases of avoidable death are considered by health authorities, there is no evidence in the academic or grey literature that any systematic analysis of coronial inquest data is undertaken at a national or state or territory level to contribute to patient safety improvement. The few cases that are reported in the Australian academic literature provide valuable evidence of the benefits in terms of identifying recurrent hazards and prompting practice change. What does this paper add? This paper provides a descriptive overview of 20 years of coronial inquest data associated with hospital care in one Australian state. It provides evidence of recurrent themes and noteworthy contributing factors that highlight specific areas of concern for patient safety in hospitals. The methods used in the analysis can be applied across other settings in Australian healthcare. In addition, the paper adds to an emerging body of research evidence in the Australian academic literature illustrating the benefits of reviewing coronial inquest data to inform patient safety initiatives. What are the implications for practitioners? Findings from this analysis can be used to further the knowledge and understanding of health practitioners working in hospital settings as to the type of patients, clinical incidents and medical management issues that have featured repeatedly in avoidable deaths reported by coroners.