• A G Matlow, L Moody, R Laxer, P Stevens, C Goia, and J N Friedman.
• Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. anne.matlow@sickkids.ca
• Arch. Dis. Child. 2010 Apr 1;95(4):286-90.

ObjectiveTo assess parental preferences for medical error disclosure and evaluate associated factors.DesignProspective survey.SettingHospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.ParticipantsParents of inpatients and outpatients.Main ExposureAnonymous questionnaire administered on May to August 2006, surveying demographic characteristics and identifying parents' thresholds for disclosure using a vignette with six levels of harm.Main Outcome MeasuresPreferred thresholds for parent and patient disclosure and associated factors.Results99% of 431 parents (181 inpatients, 250 outpatients) wanted disclosure if there was potential or actual harm versus 77% if there was none (p<0.0001). Most parents (71% vs 41%) wanted their child similarly informed (p<0.0001). Parental age, education, experience with error and child's age did not affect preferences for disclosure. Parents of inpatients (p=0.03, OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.62) and those born in Asia (vs North America) had a lower disclosure threshold (p=0.014, OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2 to 4.9), and administering the survey with increasing harm had a higher disclosure threshold (p<0.0001, OR 2.46; 95% CI 1.58 to 3.83). EXPERIENCE WITH ERROR: (p=0.05, OR 1.5, 95% CI 1 to 2.2) and child age (eg, or= 11 years (p<0.0001, OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.73 to 4.33)) directly affected preferences for informing the child. Asian parents had a lower threshold for informing the child than North American parents.ConclusionsMost parents want disclosure and want their child informed of errors with harm. While parental birth country, experience with error and patient age influenced parents' desire for disclosure to their child, the details of disclosure warrant study.

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