Factors contributing to patient safety culture: the staff perspective

Abstract

Background/Aims Unsafe medical practices lead to large numbers of injuries, disabilities and deaths each year worldwide. An understanding of safety culture in healthcare organisations is vital to improve practice and prevent adverse events from medical errors. This integrated literature review aimed to evaluate healthcare staff's perceptions of factors contributing to patient safety culture in their organisations. Methods A comprehensive in-depth review was conducted of studies associated with patient safety culture. Multiple electronic databases, such as PubMed, Wolters Kluwer Health, Karger, SAGE journal and Biomedical Central, were searched for relevant literature published between 2015 and 2020. The keywords ‘patient safety culture’, ‘patient safety’, ‘healthcare providers’, ‘adverse event’, ‘attitude’ and ‘perception’ were searched for. Results Overall, 18 articles met the inclusion criteria. Across all studies, staff highlighted several factors that need improvement to facilitate an effective patient safety culture, with most dimensions of patient safety culture lacking. In particular, staffing levels, open communication, feedback following an error and reporting of adverse events were perceived as lacking across the studies. Conclusion Many issues regarding patient safety culture were present across geographical locations and staff roles. It is crucial that healthcare managers and policymakers work towards an environment that focuses on organisational learning, rather than punishment, in regards to medical errors and adverse incidents. Teamwork between units, particularly during handovers, also requires improvement.