Process Evaluation of a Structured Method for Systematic and Integrated Occupational Safety and Health and Patient...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety
• Occupational Health and Safety

Background:

• Healthcare systems face challenges from demographic shifts, chronic illnesses, and resource constraints.
• Integrating occupational safety and health (OSH) with patient safety (PS) is crucial but lacks evidence-based methods.
• The Systematic and Integrated Occupational Safety and Health and Patient Safety Management Systems (SIOHPS) intervention was developed to address this gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the study protocol for a process evaluation of the SIOHPS trial.
• To assess the implementation and effectiveness of the SIOHPS intervention in improving safety culture and healthcare quality.

Main Methods:

• Convergent parallel mixed methods design in 13 Swedish hospitals.
• Data collection includes questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, observations, and a digital tool, guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).
• Quantitative and qualitative data analyzed independently then triangulated.

Main Results:

• The evaluation phase is ongoing (June 2024 - February 2026).
• Quantitative data collection for two clusters is complete; qualitative data transcription is underway.
• Final data collection and analysis are scheduled for early 2026, with dissemination later that year.

Conclusions:

• The process evaluation will integrate mixed methods data to understand SIOHPS's impact on safety culture, HCW health, PS, and care quality.
• This approach aims to clarify the intervention's implementation mechanisms and effectiveness.
• Findings will offer insights into the scalability and transferability of SIOHPS in diverse healthcare settings.