The problem with root cause analysis.
Peerally MF, Carr S, Waring J, et al. The problem with root cause analysis. BMJ Qual Saf. 2017;26(5):417-422. doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2016-005511.
Root cause analysis (RCA) is a strategy to investigate incidents that has gained acceptance in health care. Discussing weaknesses associated with using RCAs, this commentary suggests that challenges such as inappropriate focus on single-point causation, poor analysis quality, and insufficient feedback should be addressed to enhance the effectiveness of RCAs and sustain organizational learning from failure.