Evaluation procedures in health: Perspective of nursing care in patient safety

Patient safety culture in home care settings in Sweden: a cross-sectional survey among home care professionals

BACKGROUND

The connection between a weak patient safety culture and adverse patient events is well known, but although most long-term care is provided outside of hospitals, the focus of patient safety culture is most commonly on inpatient care. In Sweden, more than a third of people who receive care at home have been affected by adverse events, with the majority judged to be preventable. The aim of this study was to investigate the patient safety culture among care professionals working in care at home with older people.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used a purposive sample of 66 municipal care workers, health care professionals, and rehabilitation staff from five municipal care units in two districts in western Sweden who provided care at home for older people and had been employed for at least six months. The participants completed the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) self-report questionnaire, which assessed aspects of patient safety culture-norms, beliefs, and attitudes. Logistic regression analysis was used to test how the global ratings of Patient safety grade in the care units and Reporting of patient safety events were related to the dimensions of safety culture according to the staff's professions and years of work experience.

RESULTS

The most positively rated safety culture dimension was Teamwork within care units (82%), which indicates good cooperation with the closest co-workers. The least positively rated dimensions were Handoffs and transitions among care units (37%) and Management support (37%), which indicate weaknesses in the exchange of patient information across care units and limited support from top-level managers. The global rating of Patient safety grade was associated with Communication openness and Management support (p < 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). Staff with less work experience evaluated the Patient safety grade higher than those with more work experience.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that improvements are needed in care transitions and in support from top-level managers and that awareness of patient safety should be improved in staff with less work experience. The results also highlight that an open communication climate within the care unit is important for patient safety.

Knowledge of patient observation among critical care nurses

BACKGROUND

The clinical observations made by critical care nurses are vital for maintaining patient safety and making appropriate decisions in the care of patients who are critically ill. Evaluating the reliability of observations and applying analytical thinking are essential elements of patient observation. Previous studies of critical care nurses' knowledge have focused either on specific aspects of patient observation or on critical care nursing in general; therefore, the findings are not comprehensive.

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate critical care nurses' level of knowledge in patient observation and to explore the factors that are associated with it.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional knowledge test survey with critical care nurses in Finland was used.

METHODS

Data were collected in seven adult intensive care units in all five university hospitals in Finland between September 2017 and January 2018 by using a knowledge test (20 items) developed for this study. All critical care nurses were eligible to participate. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS

Altogether, 372 nurses responded (response rate 49%). Their average scores in the knowledge test were 77% (mean 15.29/20, SD 2.41) for correct answers, 75% (mean 8.2/11, SD 1.54) in the sum-variable "Evaluating the reliability of observation" and 79% (mean 7.08, SD 1.45) for "Analytical thinking." A higher knowledge level was associated with education in special tasks in an intensive care unit.

CONCLUSION

The critical care nurses' knowledge level was considered to be suboptimal. There is a need for improving knowledge of patient observation among Finnish critical care nurses to ensure safe and good quality care.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Finnish critical care nurses' knowledge of patient observation could be improved by providing specific continuing education for new nurses entering intensive care units and for experienced critical care nurses throughout their career.

A Comparison of Patient Safety Competencies between Clinical and Classroom Settings among Nursing Students

Background: As nurses play an important role in the implementation of patient safety in hospitals, competencies of patient safety should be developed and enhanced among nursing students. Self-assessment is a method that can be used to assess patient safety and its dimensions to help the students prepare themselves before entering the work life.Purpose: This study aimed to investigate differences in patient safety competencies between classroom and clinical settings among nursing students using a self-assessment method.Methods: A descriptive study using the Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey (H-PEPSS) questionnaire was conducted among 181 nursing students in a public university in Indonesia. Paired t-test, ANOVA, and independent t-test were performed to determine the comparison in the values of patient safety dimensions across classroom, clinical learning, and year of nursing course.Results: Nursing students showed a higher mean value in the classroom setting than the clinical setting. Out of the seven dimensions of patient safety competencies, “clinical safety” (M=4.36) and “communicate effectively” (M=4.29) obtained the highest score in classroom setting, while “adverse events” showed the lowest (M=4.03). In the clinical setting, “clinical safety” (M=4.19) and “communicate effectively” (M=4.12) obtained the highest score, while “working in teams” (M=3.82) was the lowest. The third-year students showed a better score than the fourth year in most dimensions.Conclusion: In this study, the patient safety competencies among nursing students were higher in the classroom setting than in the clinical setting. It is recommended to investigate the factors that can increase the achievement of patient safety competence among nursing student in the clinical setting.

Patient safety competency and the new nursing care delivery model

AIM

To identify the factors affecting nurses' patient safety competency under the new nursing care delivery model.

BACKGROUND

In Korea, a new model was introduced in 2013 to ensure that nursing personnel provided inpatients with care without relying on guardians. After the launch of this service, there continue to be nurse-related patient safety incidents.

METHODS

This is a descriptive study. Data from 132 general hospital nurses were collected during 15-24 February 2017 and analysed using hierarchical multiple regression.

RESULTS

Participants' mean patient safety competency score was 3.82 (range 1-5). Clinical career (Pratt index = 47.3%), critical thinking disposition (30.4%), teamwork (24.1%) and critical thinking training experience (7.3%) were found to affect nurses' patient safety competency.

CONCLUSION

Under the new model, new nurses showed a low level of patient safety competency. Clinical career most influenced patient safety competency. Enhanced critical thinking and teamwork training are needed to improve patient safety competency among nurses.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Nursing leaders must consider qualitative staffing mix involving appropriate placement of experienced nurses as well as quantitative staffing level to provide patients with high-quality, safe care and to implement the new model successfully. Regular training on critical thinking and teamwork should be carried out.