Nurses’ Perceptions of Patient Safety Culture in Three Hospitals in Saudi Arabia

BackgroundPatient safety, concerned with the prevention of harm to patients, has become a fundamental component of the global healthcare system. The evidence regarding the status of the patient safety culture in Arab countries in general shows that it is at a suboptimal level due to a punitive approach to errors and deficits in the openness of communications.ObjectivesTo identify factors contributing to the patient safety culture in Saudi Arabia.DesignSystematic review.MethodsA systematic search was carried out in May 2018 in five electronic databases and updated in July 2020—MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Relevant journals and reference lists of included studies were also hand-searched. Two independent reviewers verified that the studies met the inclusion criteria, assessed the quality of studies and extracted their relevant characteristics. The Yorkshire Contributory Factors Framework (YCFF) was used to categorise factors affecting safety culture in the included papers.Results14 papers were included and the majority of studies were appraised as being of good quality. Strength and weakness factors that contribute to patient safety culture were identified. Ineffective leadership, a blame culture, workload/inadequate staffing and poor communication are reported as the main factors hindering a positive patient safety culture in Saudi Arabia. Conversely, ‘strength’ factors contributing to a positive patient safety culture included supportive organisational attitudes to learning/continuous improvement, good teamwork within units and support from hospital management for patient safety. There is an absence of patient perspectives regarding patient safety culture in Saudi Arabia.ConclusionPolicymakers in the Saudi healthcare system should pay attention to the factors that may contribute to a positive patient safety culture, especially establishing a blame-free culture, improving communications and leadership capacity, learning from errors and involving patient perspectives in safety initiatives. Further research is required to understand in depth the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of a positive patient safety culture in Saudi Arabia.

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Cross-Sectional Study on Patient Safety Culture, Patient Safety Competency, and Adverse Events

Western Journal of Nursing Research ◽

10.1177/0193945919838990 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 32-40 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yonghee Han ◽

Ji-Su Kim ◽

YeJi Seo

Keyword(s):

Patient Safety ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Safety Culture ◽

Improve Patient Safety ◽

Patient Safety Culture ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

University Hospitals ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Nurses Perceptions

This study aims to examine the associations between nurses’ perceptions of patient safety culture, patient safety competency, and adverse events. Using convenience sampling, we conducted a cross-sectional study from February to May 2018 in two university hospitals. Furthermore, we performed multiple logistic regression to examine associations between patient safety culture, patient safety competency, and adverse events. Higher mean scores for “communication openness” in patient safety culture were significantly correlated with lower rates for pressure ulcers and falls; furthermore, higher mean scores for “working in teams with other health professionals” in patient safety competency were significantly correlated with reductions in ventilator-associated pneumonia. We recommend that a well-structured hospital culture emphasizing patient safety and continuation of in-service education programs for nurses to provide high-quality, clinically safe care is required. Moreover, further research is required to identify interventions to improve patient safety culture and competency and reduce the occurrence of adverse events.

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