April 26, 2019
Patient injuries and errors in medical care can occur in gynecology and obstetrics. This is often caused by inadequate communication between those involved. A research project with five partner institutions and Jacobs University as consortium leader, headed by Dr. Sonia Lippke, Professor of Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, aims to change this to improve patient safety.
According to studies, up to 72 percent of early childhood deaths and disabilities could be avoided if all participants communicated more effectively. Especially regarding chronically ill mothers, unsafe communication can lead to death during or after birth. Patient satisfaction and work satisfaction is also linked to secure communication between patients and hospital staff or within treatment teams. It is, therefore, an important prerequisite for successful treatment and quality assurance.
"TeamBaby", as the project is called in short, aims to reduce the frequency of avoidable adverse incidents in gynecology and obstetrics and to increase patient satisfaction. The main aim is to improve communication skills. Both clinical staff, as well as the expectant or young mother and her companions, are taught these skills as part of training sessions. The scientists are also developing an app that facilitates communication among all participants thus overcoming difficulties in everyday hospital life.
The project is funded for three years with approximately 1.9 million euros by the Innovation Fund under the funding code 01VSF18023. In addition to Jacobs University, the University Hospital in Frankfurt, the University Hospital in Ulm, the Patient Safety Action Alliance and the health insurance company ‘Techniker Krankenkasse’ are involved in this project.
Question will be answered by:
Sonia Lippke | Professor of Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine
s.lippke [at] jacobs-university.de | phone: +49 421 200-4730