[Establishing a safety culture in an intensive care unit : principles and challenges]

A culture of safety plays a vital role in improving healthcare quality. This long and complex process of transformation relies on several tools and strategies designed to prevent errors and ensure patient safety. Among the main measures are the reporting of adverse events, the use of structured communication tools, and root cause analysis of incidents. Inclusive leadership, a psychologically safe environment, and the promotion of incident reporting are also essential to encourage the expression of concerns and foster organizational learning. However, barriers persist, such as fear of repercussions and communication difficulties, which hinder the establishment of a genuine safety culture. The aviation-inspired model highlights the importance of transparency, standardized procedures, and learning from errors to reduce risks and improve care. Such an approach, beneficial to patients, also contributes to organizational performance and satisfaction of healthcare teams.