Patient safety: knowledge, influence and attitude among physicians: an exploratory study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Quality
• Patient Safety Research

Background:

• Patient safety is a critical global healthcare challenge, encompassing the prevention of adverse events during medical care.
• Understanding healthcare professionals' perspectives is crucial for enhancing patient safety initiatives.
• This study focuses on physicians within Cairo University's faculty of medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the knowledge, influence, and attitude of physicians towards patient safety.
• To identify factors affecting physicians' perceptions of patient safety.
• To inform the development of targeted patient safety education programs.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 187 postgraduate physicians from various specialties.
• Anonymous, self-administered questionnaires based on World Health Organization patient safety curriculum tools.
• Analysis of knowledge, influence, and attitude scores in relation to physician characteristics and training.

Main Results:

• Physicians exhibited higher median scores for attitude (4.25) compared to influence (3.1) and knowledge (2.5).
• No significant differences in scores were found based on gender, specialty, or graduation year.
• Physicians who received inpatient safety training showed a significantly higher influence score (p = 0.016).

Conclusions:

• A positive attitude towards patient safety is prevalent among physicians at Cairo University, exceeding their reported knowledge and influence.
• The findings underscore the necessity of implementing ongoing patient safety education and training programs.
• Targeted interventions can further enhance physicians' knowledge and influence, contributing to improved patient outcomes.