Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 May;33(3):200-208.
doi: 10.5001/omj.2.018.38.

Assessment of Patient Safety Culture in an Adult Oncology Department in Saudi Arabia

Waleed Alharbi  1 , Jennifer Cleland  1 , Zoe Morrison  2
Affiliations

Assessment of Patient Safety Culture in an Adult Oncology Department in Saudi Arabia

Waleed Alharbi et al. Oman Med J. 2018 May.

Abstract

Objectives: We sought to evaluate patient safety culture across different healthcare professionals from different countries of origin working in an adult oncology department in a medical facility in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey of 130 healthcare staff (doctors, pharmacists, nurses) was conducted in February 2017. We used the Hospital Survey of Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) to examine healthcare staff perceptions of safety culture.

Results: A total of 127 questionnaires were returned, yielding a response rate of 97.7%. Eight out of 12 HSOPSC composites were considered areas for improvement (percent positivity < 50.0%). Significantly different mean scores were observed across the three professional groups in all 12 HSOPSC composites. Doctors tended to rate patient safety culture significantly more positively than nurses or pharmacists. Nurses scored significantly lower than pharmacists in the majority of HSOPSC composites. No significant differences in patient safety culture composite scores were observed between Saudi/Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and non-Saudi/GCC groups. Regression analysis showed that the frequency of reported events is predicted by feedback and communication about errors, and teamwork across units. Perception of patient safety is associated with respondents' profession and teamwork across units.

Conclusions: This study brings to the fore the assumption that all healthcare professionals have a shared understanding of patient safety. We urge healthcare leaders and policy makers to look at patient safety culture at this granular level in their contexts and use this information to develop strategies and training to improve patient safety culture.

Keywords: Safety Culture; Saudi Arabia; Surveys.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Mitchell PH. Defining patient safety and quality care. In: Hughes RG, editor. Patient safety and quality: An evidence-based handbook for nurses. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2008. - PubMed
    1. Sammer CE, Lykens K, Singh KP, Mains DA, Lackan NA. What is patient safety culture? A review of the literature. J Nurs Scholarsh 2010. Jun;42(2):156-165. 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2009.01330.x - DOI - PubMed
    1. AHRQ. Culture of Safety. 2017 [cited: 2017 July 25]. Available from: https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primers/primer/5/safety-culture.
    1. Lee SH, Phan PH, Dorman T, Weaver SJ, Pronovost PJ. Handoffs, safety culture, and practices: evidence from the hospital survey on patient safety culture. BMC Health Serv Res 2016. Jul;16:254. 10.1186/s12913-016-1502-7 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Aboul-Fotouh AM, Ismail NA, Ez Elarab HS, Wassif GO. Assessment of patient safety culture among healthcare providers at a teaching hospital in Cairo, Egypt. East Mediterr Health J 2012. Apr;18(4):372-377. 10.26719/2012.18.4.372 - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources