November 13, 2019

Eduardo Caguioa, MD
Medical Director
University of Santo Tomas Hospital
España Boulevard, Manila 1015 Philippines

Dear Dr. Caguioa:

Warmest Greetings!

We, Grade 12 Health Allied researchers of the University of Santo Tomas - Senior High School,
would like to ask your permission to allow us to conduct a survey among the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Nurses in your institution, the University of Santo Tomas Hospital. This is in view of our thesis, entitled,
“A Cross-sectional Examination of the Association between Shift Length and Medical Error Tendency of
Intensive Care Unit Nurses in the University of Santo Tomas Hospital”. The relationship of work hours
and tendency to commit medical errors of nurses in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) will be discussed
thoroughly in the course of the research. We, the researchers, will survey nurses in the ICU to know if the
correlation of shift length and medical error tendency is directly proportional, indirectly proportional or
not related at all. As the study progresses, the research also aims to accomplish the following objectives:
● To identify the factors that leads to medical error tendencies of Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
nurses;
● To determine the effect of shift length hours to the performance of Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
nurses;
● To compare and contrast which shift work hours do Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses tend to
commit medical errors;
● To determine what are the common medical errors that are committed by Intensive Care Unit
(ICU) nurses;
● To evaluate which shift length hours give the most accurate assessment of patients and which
is the most efficient in terms of work performance and;
● To divulge the quality of patient care and health provider outcomes from Intensive Care Unit
(ICU) nurses.

The survey would last only about 10-15 minutes and would be arranged at a time convenient to
the nurses’ schedules (e.g. during break). Participation in the survey is entirely voluntary and there are no
known or anticipated risks to participation in this study. All information provided will be kept in utmost
confidentiality and would be used only for academic purposes. The names of the respondents and
confidential information from your hospital will not appear in any thesis or publications resulting from
this study unless agreed upon.
 After the data have been analyzed, you will receive a copy of the executive summary. If you would be
interested in greater detail, an electronic copy (e.g. PDF) of the entire thesis can be made available to you.
Attached herewith is the survey questionnaire to be used in this study.

If you agree, kindly sign below acknowledging your consent and permission for us to conduct this
survey at your hospital and return the signed form in the enclosed envelope. Your approval to conduct this
study will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your interest and assistance with this
research.

Sincerely,

J​ ERIKO ACLAN LOUISE AXALAN ANGELA CUNAN

UST-SHS Health Allied Student UST-SHS Health Allied Student UST-SHS Health Allied
Student

​KRISHNA DACUAN VIXIE MENDOZA JULIANA SANTOS

UST-SHS Health Allied Student UST-SHS Health Allied Student UST-SHS Health Allied
Student

​ GLAZELLE TAN
UST-SHS Health Allied Student

Approved by:

CAROLINA NANCA-ATAYDE
Health Allied Strand Chair
Research Adviser