System Factors Influencing the Use of a Family-Centered Rounds Checklist

INTRODUCTION: Checklists are used to operationalize care processes and enhance patient safety; however, checklist implementation is difficult within complex health systems. A family-centered rounds (FCR) checklist increased physician performance of key rounding activities, which were associated with improved parent engagement, safety perceptions, and behaviors. To inform FCR checklist implementation and dissemination, we assessed physician compliance with this checklist and factors influencing its use. METHODS: Guided by a recognized human factors and systems engineering approach, rounding observations and ad hoc resident and attending physician interviews were conducted at a tertiary children’s hospital. Rounding observers documented 8-item checklist completion (nurse presence, family preference, introductions, assessment/plan, discharge goals, care team questions, family questions, and read back orders) and then interviewed physicians to elicit their perceptions of challenges and facilitators to FCR checklist use. We performed a directed content analysis of interview notes, iteratively categorizing data into known hospital work system components. RESULTS: Of 88 individual patient rounds observed after checklist implementation, 90% included the nurse, and 77% occurred at the bedside. In an average patient rounding session, staff performed 82% of checklist items. Factors influencing checklist use were related to all hospital work system components, eg, physician familiarity with checklist content (people), visibility of the checklist (environment), providing schedules for rounding participants (organization), and availability of a mobile computer during rounds (technology). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple factors within hospital systems may influence FCR checklist use. Strategies, such as providing rounding schedules and mobile computers, may promote optimal engagement of families during rounds and promote pediatric patient safety.