Contributing Factors to Safety: What Hospitalized Patients Can Tell Us? A Cross-Sectional Study

Brazil has the second-highest COVID-19 mortality rate worldwide. While there are currently no guidelines for involving patients in their own safety, recognising patients' valuable feedback can be decisive for the safety and quality of healthcare. Thus, this study aimed to describe the patient feedback on factors contributing to safety in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Brazil and to examine associations with patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in nine Brazilian university hospitals. Data collection using the Patient Measure of Safety (PMOS) questionnaire was conducted by telephone with 447 patients who recovered from COVID-19. Descriptive and multilevel linear regression models were used to verify the sociodemographic characteristics associated with PMOS.

Patients felt safer when they accessed healthcare resources, when health professionals communicated well, and when they had good teamwork skills. Sociodemographic and clinical factors influenced the patient's perception of safety. A lower perception of safety was observed among patients aged 18-39 years old, of mixed race, and who had more than six symptoms during hospitalisation. Higher perceptions of safety were identified among patients with higher education, who lived in the countryside, and who required admission to the ICU.

This study highlighted the potential for patients to become crucial allies in ensuring safety within hospital settings by providing insights into their care, and how sociodemographic characteristics can influence the perception of safety.