Adaptation of the standardized plant analysis–risk human reliability analysis technique for the surgical setting: expert judgment approach

Abstract

Objectives. Application of human reliability analysis (HRA) techniques originally developed for industrial settings to the healthcare sector may be controversial in terms of reliability and methodological level. The aim of the present study was to adapt a standardized plant analysis risk–human reliability analysis (SPAR-H) technique for application in surgical settings through suggesting more context-specific definitions for performance shaping factors (PSFs), designing precise levels and elicitation of multipliers through a domain expert judgment approach. Methods. A ratio magnitude estimation approach was used for carrying out domain expert judgment for multiplier elicitation. Experts from four teaching hospitals participated in the present study. Intra-class correlation was used in order to examine the inter-rater reliability of the estimated multipliers for each level of diagnosis and action task type. Results. Available time, threat stress, task complexity, experience/training, procedures, working conditions, human–machine interface, fatigue and teamwork were the nine suggested PSFs for the adapted SPAR-H technique. Conclusion. Context-specific definitions of the PSFs can enhance the reliability of human error probability assessments. Eventually, it could be concluded that multiplier elicitation through domain expert judgment is an efficient approach for adaptation of the HRA techniques for application in specific contexts.

Keywords:

• human error
• standardized plant analysis risk–human reliability analysis
• performance shaping factors
• surgery
• expert judgment

Acknowledgements

This study has been approved by the ethics committee of School of Public Health of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Science with ethics code IR.SSU.SPH.REC.1398.129.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.