Healthcare Staff Experience During JCI Accreditation Preparation and Survey: Evidence From Dubai, United Arab...

Accreditation is widely used to improve healthcare quality and patient safety; however, staff experiences during accreditation preparation and survey activities remain inadequately understood, particularly in Middle Eastern healthcare settings. The objective of this study was to examine healthcare staff experiences during Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation and identify organizational factors associated with positive accreditation experiences and perceived outcomes.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among clinical and nonclinical staff at a tertiary academic medical center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, following a JCI accreditation survey. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariable logistic regression were used to evaluate associations between organizational factors and staff-reported experiences.

A total of 304 staff responses were analyzed. Overall perceptions of accreditation were highly favorable, with more than 90% of respondents reporting positive perceptions of patient safety, quality of care, teamwork, and leadership engagement. Leadership engagement (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.45), perceived improvements in patient safety (AOR 2.89), and quality of care (AOR 2.63) were independently associated with positive accreditation experiences. Workload manageability (AOR 0.61) and psychological safety (AOR 0.68) were negatively associated with positive experience. Nurses and allied health professionals reported more favorable perceptions than physicians, although differences were small. Qualitative findings highlighted the need for continuous readiness, protected time for accreditation activities, improved coordination, and ongoing training.

Healthcare staff generally perceived JCI accreditation positively and associated it with improvements in patient safety and quality of care. Leadership engagement emerged as a key facilitator of positive accreditation experiences, whereas workload burden and psychological safety represented important challenges. Organizations implementing accreditation programs should prioritize continuous readiness, workforce support, psychological safety, and targeted physician engagement strategies to sustain accreditation benefits.