Safety culture in two metropolitan Australian tertiary hospital intensive care units: A cross-sectional survey

Nurses' attitudes towards factors determining the safety of patients treated in intensive care units: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The goal of health care systems is to ensure high quality of medical services provided, including patient safety. The intensive care unit (ICU) is an environment conducive to the occurrence of adverse events and medical errors because of the complexity of the care provided, the severity of the conditions of patients treated in these units and work often performed under stressful conditions.

AIM

Assessment of attitudes of nurses working in ICUs towards patient safety.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in a group of 214 nurses employed in ICUs in hospitals located in the southern part of Poland. The study used the Polish version of the Attitudes towards safety: (SAQ-SF PL) questionnaire and an original questionnaire consisting of questions on socio-demographic and professional data.

RESULTS

The overall SAQ score for the whole group was 61.89, 57.29 for adult ICU nurses and 68.20 for children's ICU. The surveyed nurses in general obtained the highest average results in terms of teamwork climate (TC)-66.92, while the lowest scores were given to the management-hospital management (PM)-45.08 and working conditions (WC)-57.56. job satisfaction (JS) positively correlated with the assessment of the TC, the assessment of the safety climate (SC), the assessment of the management staff (Head of Department) (PM), the assessment of the management staff (hospital management) (PM) and the assessment of work conditions (WC). A statistically significant, negative correlation was found between the assessment of JS and the assessment of stress recognition (SR) (r = -.20; p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

In the surveyed ICU branches, there is a low SC, and it is related, among others, to the perception of WC and the role of the management staff. The level of JS among nursing staff mainly depends on the SC, the TC, WC and the support of the management staff.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The results of the research presented here provide valuable assistance in identifying areas related to patient safety in ICUs. Managers' awareness of the importance of coping with occupational stress, WC or effective teamwork can help to improve staff attitudes and attitudes towards patient safety. When shaping a safe culture in a health care organization, it is important to remember that ensuring safe patient care is not only about programmes, standards or procedures, but safety is primarily about human resources-the staff involved in the treatment process-doctors, nurses, paramedics and physiotherapists. High awareness of safety at work, cooperation in an interdisciplinary team, assessment of safety culture at work and analysis and drawing conclusions may result in a real increase in quality and safety, and the patient will feel safer in 'XX' hospitals.

Enhancing patient safety: detection of in-hospital hazards and effect of training on detection (by training in a low-fidelity simulation Room of Improvement based on hospital-specific CIRS cases)

IMPORTANCE

Adequate situational awareness in patient care increases patient safety and quality of care. To improve situational awareness, an innovative, low-fidelity simulation method referred to as Room of Improvement, has proven effective in various clinical settings.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact after 3 months of Room of Improvement training on the ability to detect patient safety hazards during an intensive care unit shift handover, based on critical incident reporting system (CIRS) cases reported in the same hospital.

METHODS

In this educational intervention, 130 healthcare professionals observed safety hazards in a Room of Improvement in a 2 (time 1 vs time 2)×2 (alone vs in a team) factorial design. The hazards were divided into immediately critical and non-critical.

RESULTS

The results of 130 participants were included in the analysis. At time 1, no statistically significant differences were found between individuals and teams, either overall or for non-critical errors. At time 2, there was an increase in the detection rate of all implemented errors for teams compared with time 1, but not for individuals. The detection rate for critical errors was higher than for non-critical errors at both time points, with individual and group results at time 2 not significantly different from those at time 1. An increase in the perception of safety culture was found in the pre-post test for the questions whether the handling of errors is open and professional and whether errors are discussed in the team.

DISCUSSION

Our results indicate a sustained learning effect after 12 weeks, with collaboration in teams leading to a significantly better outcome. The training improved the actual error detection rates, and participants reported improved handling and discussion of errors in their daily work. This indicates a subjectively improved safety culture among healthcare workers as a result of the situational awareness training in the Room of Improvement. As this method promotes a culture of safety, it is a promising tool for a well-functioning CIRS that closes the loop.

Patient safety culture and medication safety in European intensive care units: a focus group study

BACKGROUND

Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are susceptible to medication errors (MEs) for many reasons, including the complexity and intensity of care. Little is known about patient safety culture, its relationship to medication safety, and ME prevention strategies used in ICUs. This study explored the attitudes of healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in ICUs or within medication safety towards patient safety culture, medication safety, and factors influencing implementation of ME prevention strategies in ICUs across Europe.

METHODS

This qualitative study employed focus group discussions; ethical approval was obtained. Invitations to participate were distributed to HCPs working in ICUs or as medication safety officers across Europe. In May 2022, online focus group discussions were conducted. Discussions were transcribed verbatim and analysed. The framework analysis employed was inductive, systematic and transparent, and completed through a collaborative and iterative process.

RESULTS

Three nurses and 11 pharmacists, from seven different countries, participated in three focus group discussions. There was a sense of improvement in blame culture leading to more open culture, although it was not the case for all participants. Blame culture, when present, was thought to be prevalent among more senior ICU staff and hospital managers. Facilitators for improving medication safety included communicating with HCPs and providing feedback on MEs and ME prevention strategies, interprofessional working without hierarchies, and having a 'good' culture and environment. Barriers included lack of engagement of HCPs and their attitudes towards medication safety, and an existing blame culture. Participants reported 25 different ME prevention strategies in use including: assessing knowledge; teaching and training; auditing practice; incident reporting; and involvement of pharmacists.

CONCLUSIONS

This study examined the attitudes of HCPs on patient safety culture and medication safety in the ICU setting in Europe and gained their insight into facilitators and barriers to the implementation of ME prevention strategies to improve medication safety.

Validation of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire for Assessing Patient Safety Culture in Critical Care Settings of Three Selected Ugandan Hospitals

Background

The safety attitudes questionnaire (SAQ) short form (2006) is important for assessing patient safety culture in clinical environments. However, little is known about its validity and applicability in Uganda. This study validated the SAQ short form (2006) for use in assessing patient safety culture in critical care settings of hospitals in the Ugandan context.

Methods

Using a sequential exploratory mixed-methods research design, the face, content and construct validity for the SAQ short form (2006) was assessed in a multi-phased approach. A panel of eight (8) purposively selected experts assessed the face and content validity in rounds 1 and 2, respectively, while construct validity was assessed in round 3 using data from a cross-sectional survey of 256 frontline health workers in critical care settings of the selected hospitals. Analysis of survey data followed confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach's alpha examined internal reliability.

Results

Of the 36 items in the tool's original version, 33 were rated clear, with a score of 100% on face validity. The use of contextual vocabulary and formatting issues arose as concerns. The S-CVI/_Ave was 100%, and S-CVI/_UA was 86.1%. Four new items added on effective communication as another dimension of patient safety culture. The survey had KMO=0.8605, the a priori-based model had a scale Cronbach's alpha=0.8881, with unsatisfactory goodness of fit (RMSEA=0.051, 90% CI: 0.044-0.057, pclose=0.427; chi-square=694.28, p <0.001; CFI=0.884, TLI=0.871). The modified final model had a scale Cronbach's alpha =0.8967 and satisfactory goodness of fit (RMSEA=0.030, 90% CI: 0.019-0.039, pclose=1.000; chi-square=424.98, p=0.002; CFI=0.966, TLI=0.960).

Conclusion

In the tool's original form, the face validity was lacking despite satisfactory scores on item clarity. Content validity was adequate, while construct validity required modifications in construct specifications. Reliability was adequate before and after specification modifications. The modified version has adequate psychometric properties for Uganda.

Safety culture in the perception of public-hospital health professionals

OBJECTIVE

Evaluating safety culture in the perception of professionals working in public hospitals of the Unified Health System (SUS) of Distrito Federal, Brazil, three years after the implementation of the National Patient Safety Program (PNSP).

METHODS

Analytical cross-sectional study conducted in eleven public hospitals using the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) in electronic format. Stratified sampling was estimated according to the proportion of the total number of professionals in each hospital, as well as the representativeness of each professional group. The results of the total score and domains equal to or greater than 75 were considered positive. Descriptive and inferential analyses of professional groups and hospitals were carried out.

RESULTS

909 professionals participated. The total score by professional group was negative (62.5 to 69.5) and the domains differed statistically in all cases. The eleven hospitals had a negative total score (61.5 to 68.6). The domains to attain positive performance were job satisfaction, stress recognition and teamwork climate. The lowest results were in working conditions and management perception domains, for which none of the hospitals had an average above 75. Differences were also found for domain means across hospitals, except in management perception.

DISCUSSION

Three years after the implementation of PNSP, the safety culture in eleven hospitals evaluated was weak, although the domains of job satisfaction, stress recognition and teamwork climate had positive results. The results can contribute to decision-making by managers, as safety culture is an essential element in the implementation of patient safety policy.

Safety attitudes build safety culture: Nurse/midwife leaders improving health care using quantitative data

AIM

We aim to determine safety attitudes of nurses and midwives across a Local Health District in Australia and compare results 1 year later following facilitated feedback of results.

BACKGROUND

Positive safety cultures are imperative for positive patient and staff outcomes. Staff member's attitude contribute to an organisations safety culture but can differ between health professional groups and across different subcultures.

METHOD

The Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ-Short version) was administered to all nurses and midwives within a Local Health District in NSW, Australia in 2019 and 2020. Results were facilitated back to nursing/midwifery leadership teams with an expectation of developing and enacting an action plan, based on results.

RESULTS

Of the six domains in the SAQ-Short version, five domains scores increased significantly (p < .001) over the time period.

CONCLUSIONS

Measures over time are important to establish differences in perceptions and feedback on impact of actions. Facilitated feedback of results shows meaning when nursing/midwifery leadership staff have data explained and an opportunity to discuss and plan.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

This study shows that facilitated feedback of quantitative survey results brings improved results when a survey is replicated. Nurse managers should enact a contextualized action plan with teams based on survey results to influence improvement in safety attitudes of staff.

Factors influencing the patient safety climate in intensive care units: cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Measuring the patient safety climate of a health service provides important information about the safety status at a given time. This study aimed to determine the factors influencing the patient safety climate in Intensive Care Units.

METHODS

An analytical and cross-sectional study conducted in 2017 and 2018 in two adult Intensive Care Units of a Brazilian Teaching Hospital. The Safety Attitudes Questionnaire instrument was applied with the multidisciplinary teams to determine the factors influencing the patient safety climate. Data were double entered into a database and processed using the R (version 3.5.0) statistical software. Position, central tendency and dispersion measures were taken and absolute and relative frequencies, mean and confidence intervals were calculated for the quantitative variables. Linear regression was performed to verify the effect of variables on the SAQ domains. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.25 were selected for multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 84 healthcare providers participated in the study. The mean Safety Attitudes Questionnaire score was 59.5, evidencing a negative climate. The following factors influenced the safety climate: time since course completion, professional category, type of employment contract, complementary professional training, and weekly workload.

CONCLUSIONS

The factors identified indicate items for planning improvements in communication, teamwork, work processes, and management involvement, aiming to ensure care safety and construct a supportive safety climate.

A baseline assessment of patient safety culture and its associated factors from the perspective of critical care nurses: Results from 10 hospitals

INTRODUCTION

Critical care nurses are considered the key to patient safety improvement and play a vital role in enhancing quality of care in intensive care units (ICUs) where adverse events are frequent and have severe consequences. Moreover, there is recognition of the importance of the assessment and the development of patient safety culture (PSC) as a strategic focus for the improvement of patient safety and healthcare quality, notably in critical care settings.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess critical care nurses' perception of PSC and to determine its associated factors.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working in the ICUs of the Tunisian centre (six Tunisian governorates). The study instrument was the French validated version of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture questionnaire, comprising 10 dimensions and a total of 50 items.

RESULTS

A total of 249 nurses from 18 ICUs participated in the study, with a participation rate of 87.36%. The dimensions scores ranged between 17.2% for the dimension "frequency of events reported" and 50.1% for the dimension "teamwork within units". Multivariable logistic regression indicated that respondents who worked in private hospitals were five times more likely to have a developed PSC (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 5.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], [2.28, 12.51]; p < 10^-3). Similarly, participants who worked in a certified hospital were two times more likely to have a more developed PSC than respondents who work in noncertified hospitals (AOR: 2.51; 95% CI, [.92-6.82]; p = 0.041). In addition, an increased nurse-per-patient ratio (i.e., reduced workload) increased PSC (AOR: 1.10; 95% CI, [1.02-1.12]; p = 0.018).

CONCLUSION

This study has shown that the state of critical care nurses' PSC is critically low and these baseline results can help to form a plan of actions for improvements.

Patient safety in Work Environments: Perceptions of Pediatric Healthcare Providers in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Extensive research on the link between the organizational characteristics of the work environment and patient safety in a healthcare organization has been conducted; yet, only a few studies have concentrated on care providers in a pediatric unit.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the correlation between different work environment factors impacting patient safety in a pediatric care unit from the perspective of registered nurses working in these units.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional design.

DATA SOURCES AND METHODS

The study was conducted with 155 registered nurses from a pediatric unit in a medical center in Taiwan with the Chinese version of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) 2014-2017.

RESULTS

Teamwork climate, higher job satisfaction, and better working conditions are linked to positive perceptions of patient safety culture. Emotional exhaustion is negatively related to most dimensions of patient safety.

CONCLUSION

Teamwork climate, job satisfaction, working conditions, and emotional exhaustion were identified as critical factors impacting the patient safety climate.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING OR HEALTH POLICY

Investments to improve teamwork climate, job satisfaction, and working conditions and reduce emotional exhaustion may have a positive effect on patient safety in pediatric care units.