Perception of feeling safe perioperatively: a concept analysis

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Research

Background:

• Understanding patient safety in perioperative settings is essential.
• The patient's perspective on feeling safe is often overlooked in traditional safety frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the concept of feeling safe from the patient's viewpoint within the perioperative context.
• To define the attributes, antecedents, and consequences of feeling safe in surgical care.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the eight-step concept analysis approach by Walker and Avant.
• Examined defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents of feeling safe.
• Included case examples to illustrate the concept's attributes.

Main Results:

• Feeling safe is defined as not feeling worried or threatened.
• Key attributes identified: Participation, Control, and Presence.
• Antecedents include Knowledge and Relationship; consequences include Feeling Acknowledged and Trust.

Conclusions:

• Patient perceptions of safety are vital for enhancing traditional patient safety initiatives.
• Feeling safe involves patient participation, control, and the presence of healthcare staff and relatives.
• Enhanced perceived security can positively influence postoperative recovery and patient outcomes.