Affect and error: A qualitative study of affective processes when things go wrong in radiotherapy.

Jenkins, Paul 2024. Affect and error: A qualitative study of affective processes when things go wrong in radiotherapy. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

The subject of patient safety with the objective of reducing avoidable harm has gained growing interest. Yet, despite this focus, harmful errors in healthcare continue to occur resulting in significant burden. Research in social sciences has recognised the influence of affect on behaviour and decision making. Therefore, knowledge of affect could be valuable to healthcare professionals. However, research on affect in healthcare remains overlooked. The aim of this research was to examine the role of affect when a human error occurred within radiotherapy. To achieve this aim, eight participants directly involved in error were recruited from four UK radiotherapy departments. Employing four case studies, document analysis, memory work, and interviews were combined to reveal each participants’ lived experience of the error. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to present the uniqueness of each case prior to revealing the themes that subsequently emerged. Affect contributed and was recognised in multifarious ways. Lively affectively charged worlds were portrayed, with the intra-actions of affected Radiographers within their surroundings resulting in unpredictable actions. Affect surfaced both above and below conscious awareness and resulted in different types of error. The affective consequences of losing control and running behind schedule was evident. The resulting affective states accumulated, swirled, and intensified and resulted in a sense of overwhelm becoming apparent. Flawed decisions were made by each affected Radiographer that resulted in errors. Several areas for future research are suggested. Researchers could develop the findings by adding supplemental cases which examine the intra-action of humans within increasingly complex systems. Further evidence is needed to support the presented definition of a slip. The affective processes concerning loss of control, and associated need to rush, revealed an opportunity for future exploration. Whereas this research was undertaken within the specific field of radiotherapy, it could be replicated in other healthcare domains.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Business (Including Economics)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Affect, materialism, radiotherapy, patient safety, human error, error investigation.
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 September 2024
Last Modified:	30 Sep 2024 15:56
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/172476

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