A total of 139 responses showed some gastroenterology acronyms were incorrectly understood by a large majority of respondents. For example, GAVE, also known as gastric antral vascular ectasia, was correctly identified by 13 respondents and incorrectly identified by 126 respondents. Other gastroenterology acronyms that were largely incorrectly identified were argon plasma coagulation (APC), orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), small bowel enteroscopy (SBE) and tubulovillous adenoma (TVA).
Researchers suggest that healthcare organizations investigate the possibility of frequently overlooked variability regarding medical acronyms, which could lead to medical errors and endanger patient safety.
Read the study about medical acronym variability.
Read other coverage about patient safety:
– The Joint Commission Highlights Look-Alike/Sound-Alike Drugs
– 4 Ways to Establish a Culture Focused on Infection Control
– 5 Best Practices for Maintaining clinical Documentation
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