WHO issues patient safety curriculum guidebook for educators

MANILA, Philippines - The World Health Organization (WHO) has created a “patient safety curriculum guideline” to guide health educators on best practices for patient care. 

In a statement, WHO said the guidebook would help “stem the millions of deaths that occur globally each year from unsafe patient care and practices.” It was launched initially in six WHO regions – Western Pacific, Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe and Southeast Asia and pilot-tested in Australia and the Philippines.

“The curriculum guide provides direction to educators and develops a variety of ideas and methods for teaching patient safety to undergraduate and postgraduate students,” WHO said.

It also places attention on care for priority patients.

The guide is divided into two parts; the first part serves as the teacher’s guide and covers knowledge, skills and behavior necessary for teaching patient safety, while the second part discusses key patient safety practices. 

It was created after a WHO study showed that “medical curricula lack patient safety concepts and practices, which are necessary to significantly reduce the occurrence of medical errors and adverse events by health-care providers.”