Improving Compliance with Patient Identification Protocols: a Quality and Patient Safety Improvement Study

Abstract

Background: Patient misidentification is one of the most common and preventable causes of medication errors, diagnostic delays, and procedural mistakes. Baseline audits revealed a low compliance rate of 64–70% in using two patient identifiers before interventions and 20 misidentification incidents within three months, indicating a significant threat to patient safety.

Objectives: To increase compliance with patient identification protocols to 100% by reinforcing proper identification practices and reducing misidentification incidents to zero within the project period.

Methods: A pre–post interventional study was conducted from April to June 2025 in the Nursing Quality and ICU areas. Interventions included re-orientation training, workflow simplification, visual reminders, and weekly audit-feedback cycles. Compliance data were collected monthly using standardized audit tools.

Results: Compliance improved steadily from 70% at baseline to 75% in April, 82% in May, and 88% in June. Staff engagement increased, night-shift compliance improved, and audit fatigue reduced after introducing peer-led feedback and visual prompts.

Conclusion: Structured training, visual cues, and consistent audit-feedback mechanisms significantly improved adherence to patient identification protocols. Sustained monitoring is essential to achieve the final target of 100% compliance.