Field Test of the World Health Organization Multi-Professional Patient Safety Curriculum Guide

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Patient Safety
• Medical Training

Background:

• Patient safety training is crucial but often under-utilized globally.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) developed a Multi-professional Patient Safety Curriculum Guide.
• The guide was field-tested in 12 diverse schools across six WHO regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of the WHO Patient Safety Curriculum Guide.
• To evaluate its suitability for teaching patient safety to healthcare students.
• To gather data on its global applicability and impact.

Main Methods:

• A combined prospective/retrospective evaluation design was employed.
• Stakeholder interviews and student surveys were conducted at baseline, mid-point, and post-teaching.
• Data collection occurred across 12 international participating schools.

Main Results:

• Stakeholders reported positive experiences, citing the guide's universal relevance and cultural adaptability.
• Student perceptions and attitudes towards patient safety significantly improved.
• Healthcare students' knowledge of patient safety topics doubled, increasing from 10.7% to 20.8% correct answers.

Conclusions:

• The Curriculum Guide is effective for both ease of use and enhancing student patient safety knowledge.
• The WHO is well-positioned to refine and promote the guide for worldwide adoption.
• Broader global implementation of the guide is recommended for patient safety education.