• Patrice François, Frédéric Prate, Gwenaëlle Vidal-Trecan, Jean-François Quaranta, José Labarere, and Elodie Sellier.
• Quality of Care Unit, University Hospital, and Research Unit, TIMC-IMAG (UMR 5525 CNRS/UJF-Grenoble 1), Grenoble, F-38043, France. pfrancois@chu-grenoble.fr.
• Bmc Health Serv Res. 2016 Jan 30; 16: 35.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of morbidity and mortality conferences (MMCs) associated with the implementation of patient health-care quality and safety improvement initiatives.MethodsWe conducted an observational study of MMCs and followed up improvement initiatives for 1 year. Data on MMC baseline characteristics were abstracted using document analysis and observation of a meeting in three university hospitals in France (Grenoble, Nice, and Cochin [Paris] hospitals). Fifty-nine MMCs were included in medical (n = 24), surgical (n = 21), and anesthesiology and/or intensive care (n = 14) departments. An effectiveness index was computed by summing a composite score for each initiative pertaining to the MMC.ResultsOverall, 282 initiatives were identified in 42 MMCs. During the follow-up period, 215 initiatives (76%) were totally or partially implemented and the impact was evaluated for 73 (26%). An effectiveness index higher than the median (i.e., ≥10) was associated with a standardized presentation of cases (81% versus 29%, p <0.001), recording of improvement initiatives (94 versus 57, p = 0.001), the existence of an annual activity report (94% versus 68%, p = 0.01), the prior dissemination of a meeting agenda (71% versus 36%, p = 0.007), longer meeting duration (109 versus 80 min, p = 0.005), anesthesiology and/or intensive care specialty (39% versus 7%, p = 0.02), a theme-focused MMC (29% versus 4 %, p = 0.01), and a thorough analysis of failures (58% versus 25%, p = 0.01).ConclusionsThis study suggests that the implementation of improvement initiatives relates to MCC characteristics. Recommendations for developing more effective patient safety-oriented MMCs can be proposed.

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