Evaluation of patient safety culture education program among healthcare professionals: A cross-sectional study

Patient safety is an important aspect of healthcare system. Owingto improper training, there is high mortality and morbidity involved in patient care in hospitals worldwide. This study aimed to analyze the patient safety culture awareness among healthcare professionals in India.

This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in different hospital settings following Institutional ethical Committee approval. The study sample comprised of 1800 healthcare professionals (physicians, dentist, nurses, patient care assistants, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and hospital administrators) selected using nonprobability convenient sampling method. Hospital survey on patient safety culture developed by Agency Healthcare Research Quality professionals was used which comprised of thirty questions grouped in 11 dimensions including supervisor's/managerial expectations, actions promoting patient safety, organizational learning, continued improvement and hospital teamwork. Statistical analysis: The Pilot study was conducted using the SPSS Statistical tool software version 20.0 (IBM, NY) for testing the reliability of the questionnaire by usingthe Cronbach alpha test. The calculated sample size was found to be 100 for performing the pilot study. Cronbach alpha score of 0.734 was obtained which was indicative of study validity. Responses were recorded on 5-point Likert scale, i.e., 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neither agree nor disagree, 4 = agree, and 5 = strongly agree). The Chi-square test/goodness of fittest was usedfor determination of statistical significance of qualitative variables, while Chi-square and Mann-Whitney Utests were used for intergroup comparisons. P < 0.05 was considered to have statistical significance.

The 'hands off' and transitions domain required demonstrated lower positive responses (35.56%). Higher positive responses were obtained from dimensions: teamwork within a unit (92.21%), organizational learning and continued improvement (89.49%), frequency of reported events (82.31%), and feedback and communication errors (69.19%). Least positive responses were obtained from two dimensions-(a) general perception (20.23%) and (b) nonpunitive response to errors (09.12%). On comparison between perception responses by use of'Chi-square' test, statistically significant difference (<0.05) was obtained between following variables-(a) perception regarding patient safety dimensions and position and (b) experience level of healthcare professionals.

There is requirement of improvement in few domains to strengthen patient safety culture in India which can be done by means of training programs in hospitals.