Organizational Culture Patterns and Safety-Relevant Dimensions in Teaching Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology
• Patient Safety Research

Background:

• Organizational culture significantly impacts patient safety in teaching hospitals.
• Identifying specific cultural dimensions driving safety in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains a challenge.
• This study investigated cultural patterns in Iranian teaching hospitals to understand their relevance to safety outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify dominant organizational culture patterns in Iranian teaching hospitals.
• To assess the operational relevance of these cultural dimensions for patient safety.
• To provide insights for improving safety in LMIC healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with 108 healthcare staff in Iranian teaching hospitals.
• Organizational culture was assessed using a validated multilevel questionnaire (teamwork, responsibility, risk-taking, accountability).
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, group comparisons, correlation, and regression models.

Main Results:

• Responsibility and accountability scored highest among cultural dimensions, while teamwork and risk-taking scored lower.
• Female staff and managerial staff reported higher responsibility and accountability, respectively.
• Teamwork showed a strong positive correlation with accountability (r=0.696, p<0.01).

Conclusions:

• Iranian teaching hospitals exhibit a conservative culture emphasizing stability and compliance.
• Strengths in responsibility and accountability exist, but enhancing teamwork is vital for translating values into safety outcomes.
• Findings offer insights for LMICs balancing accountability and adaptability for resilient health systems.