Formulation, implementation and evaluation of a distance course for accreditation in patient safety

OBJECTIVE: To formulate and to implement a virtual learning environment course in patient safety, and to propose ways to estimate the impact of the course in patient safety outcomes. METHODS: The course was part of an accreditation process and involved all employees of a public hospital in Brazil. The whole hospital staff was enrolled in the course. The accreditation team defined the syllabus. The education guidelines were divided into 12 modules related to quality, patient safety and required organizational practices. The assessment was performed at the end of each module through multiple-choice tests. The results were estimated according to occurrence of adverse events. Data were collected after the course, and employees’ attitude was surveyed. RESULTS: More than 80% of participants reached up to 70% success on tests after the course; the event-reporting rate increased from 714 (16,264 patients) to 1,401 (10,180 patients). CONCLUSION: Virtual learning environment was a successful tool data. Data on course evaluation is consistent with increase in identification and reporting of adverse events. Although the report increment is not positive per si, it indicates changes in patient safety culture.