EVALUATION OF PATIENT SAFETY CULTURE IN A HOSPITAL IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Abstract

Objective: To assess the level of patient safety culture, from the perspective of health professionals, in a hospital in southern Brazil. Material and Method: Quantitative study carried out using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture instrument, from May to June 2018. The sample was drawn using convenience sampling and consisted of 291 participants; data were organized in Microsoft Excel®. For the analysis and interpretation of safety culture dimensions, the methodology proposed by the Agency Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) was applied. Results: The overall percentage of positive responses was 46%, the dimension that showed a higher percentage of positive responses was “organizational learning and continuous improvement”, however no dimension reached a value above 75%. The dimension that showed the greatest fragility was a “non-punitive response to error” with the lowest percentage of positive responses (16%). Most professionals (56%) did not make any notification in the 12-month period. Regarding the participants’ perception of patient safety in their work unit, a similar amount was observed among those who have a positive (very good and excellent) and negative (regular, bad and very bad) perception. Conclusions: The study reveals weaknesses in patient safety culture, highlighting the need to discuss the subject in all healthcare areas within the institution.