Using simulation to augment root cause analysis for patient safety incidents at a tertiary care women's and children's hospital: a qualitative feasibility study.

Root cause analysis (RCA) is a common investigation technique in healthcare. This study sought to understand staff perspectives on including in situ simulation as a component of RCA. Barriers included concerns over simulation being punitive, for example, to justify firing staff involved in the initial patient safety incident. Valuing patient safety and wanting to deliver safe care to patients lead staff and clinicians to favor the use of simulation.