Patients' experience of patient safety information and participation in care during a hospital stay

Intern nursing students' perceptions of patient safety culture and their experiences with factors affecting the safety of care in hospital settings: A mixed method study

BACKGROUND

Patient safety culture is a globally studied subject as it plays a significant role in preventing and reducing errors. There is limited mixed-method research into the in-depth investigation of intern nurses' views on patient safety in hospital settings and the factors affecting it.

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to determine intern nursing students' perceptions of patient safety culture and their experiences with exploring factors affecting the safety of care in hospital settings.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A convergent mixed-method design was used. The study group was selected using the purposive sampling method. STROBE and COREQ checklists were followed. The quantitative phase was descriptive and correlational, and the qualitative phase was phenomenological. Quantitative data were collected using a "Personal Information Form" and "Patient Safety Culture Scale" and qualitative data using a "Semi-Structured Interview Form." Mean ± standard deviation, median (min-max), frequency, percentage values, Shapiro-Wilk, and Mann-Whitney U tests were employed to evaluate quantitative data. The inductive content analysis method was used to analyze qualitative data.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The study consisted of intern nursing students from a university in the 2020-2021 academic year. The quantitative phase of the research was conducted with 38 and the qualitative phase with nine intern nursing students. In the qualitative phase, the saturation point was taken as a basis.

RESULTS

In the study, nursing students' perceptions of patient safety culture were high (3.24 ± 0.49; min = 1.88 and max = 4). The results of the qualitative data analysis indicated that the factors affecting patient safety in hospital settings consisted of three themes, namely "health professionals, care environment, and patients and caregivers" and nine subthemes.

CONCLUSIONS

Intern nursing students had high perceptions of patient safety culture and had highly significant experiences with the factors affecting safe care in hospital settings.

Barriers and facilitators to feeling safe for inpatients: a model based on a qualitative meta-synthesis

Objectives

To review and synthesize qualitative research exploring patients' safe experience and construct a model to present barriers and facilitators to feeling safe for inpatients.

Design

A qualitative met-synthesis.

Methods

We conducted a systematic electronic search of articles published in English with no date limitation across five databases (Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAIL via EBSCO, and PsyINFO) in May 2023. Qualitative research focused on the safe experiences of inpatients was considered. Systematic searches yielded 8,132 studies, of which 16 articles were included. Two reviewers independently extracted and analyzed data. Qualitative meta-synthesis was performed through line-by-line coding of original texts, organizing codes into descriptive themes, and generating analytical themes.

Results

We identified four themes and 11 sub-themes. Across the four themes, control included a barrier (Uncertainty) and two facilitators (Patient participation and safe care); responsible included three facilitators (Confidence in the profession, care for, and responsive); dignity included two barriers (Privacy and Neglect); stability included a barrier (Potential risk), and two facilitators (Harmonious and safe culture). We constructed a model to present the logical connection between these themes and related barriers and facilitators.

Conclusion

Feeling safe for inpatients is a complex perception, including four themes: control, responsible, dignity, and stability. Surrounding four themes and related barriers and facilitators, we outline principles for creating a safe environment and present strategies for improving patients' hospitalization experience and ensuring patient safety.

Clinical relevance

This review provides valuable insight into the clinical practice and health policy and helps medical staff to identify and overcome the potential barriers to implementing interventions in safe care. In addition, the model comprehensively describes the nature and dimensions of feeling safe, informing high-quality care service and related research.

Systematic review registration

Identifier, CRD42023435489.