Effects of Just Culture and Empowerment on Patient Safety Activities of Hospital Nurses

This study investigated the relationship among hospital nurses’ perceptions of a just culture, empowerment, and patient safety activities. It also determined the factors affecting the patient safety activities of nurses. This cross-sectional study included 189 nurses from four hospitals in South Korea. The survey was conducted from October to December 2019 using self-report questionnaires including items on socio-demographic characteristics, just culture, empowerment, and patient safety activities. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 25.0. Patient safety activities correlated positively with just culture (r = 0.369, p < 0.000) and empowerment (r = 0.38, p < 0.000). Additionally, empowerment (β = 0.213, p = 0.001) and just culture (β = 0.442, p < 0.000) had statistically significant effects on patient safety activities and explained about 19.5% of the variance in patient safety activities (F = 16.170, p < 0.001). The patient safety at medical institutions can be improved by cultivating a work environment that embraces a just culture and empowers nurses.

Improving the training of air traffic controllers: Opinions from instructors in Singapore

Air traffic controllers play a vital function with regard to ensuring the safety and efficiency of international civil aviation. Despite this, there is a lack of research addressing how air traffic controllers are trained. This paper collects opinions about the air traffic control (ATC) training programme in Singapore from a group of 30 instructors who were working within the aerodrome training team. Convenience sampling was used to recruit the participants and thematic analysis was used to identify key opinions. Significant advantages and disadvantages of the current training programme were identified, such as pre-training and simulator constraints. In addition to findings relating to the learning of required skill sets, interviews also highlighted the need for a just culture in the workplace and human factors training.

Improving the training of air traffic controllers: Opinions from instructors in Singapore

Air traffic controllers play a vital function with regard to ensuring the safety and efficiency of international civil aviation. Despite this, there is a lack of research addressing how air traffic controllers are trained. This paper collects opinions about the air traffic control (ATC) training programme in Singapore from a group of 30 instructors who were working within the aerodrome training team. Convenience sampling was used to recruit the participants and thematic analysis was used to identify key opinions. Significant advantages and disadvantages of the current training programme were identified, such as pre-training and simulator constraints. In addition to findings relating to the learning of required skill sets, interviews also highlighted the need for a just culture in the workplace and human factors training.

The Impact of a Legally Defined Just Culture on Voluntary Reporting of Safety Information

The aim of the present study was to examine commercial pilots’ reporting behavior and confidence in their airlines’ just culture. In pursuit of this aim, 539 European-based pilots participated in the study by answering an online questionnaire. The results are compared with an earlier study comprising Australian-based pilots. The results reveal that 84% and 57% of the European and Australian pilots, respectively, trust their airlines’ just culture. When comparing reporting behaviors, it was found that 53% of the Australian pilots and 33% of the European pilots stated they had failed to report, or had under-reported, safety information in their airlines’ safety management system. A distinct difference with the aviation regulatory backdrop that the two pilot groups operate within is the legal legitimization of just culture in European law. It is unknown whether this difference influences confidence in just culture or has an effect on reporting behavior.