Patient safety culture among the nursing staff and quality assurance managers at Gauteng public hospitals

Abstract

Background: Determining the level of patient safety culture is important in identifying areas for improvement in patient safety and care. The desire to improve patient care motivated this study.
Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the level of patient safety culture among the nursing staff and quality assurance managers at the three selected public hospitals in Gauteng province, South Africa.
Setting: The research was conducted at the three selected public hospitals in Gauteng province, South Africa, categorised as central, regional and district.
Methods: Descriptive quantitative method had two sub-phases. Phase 2(a): a questionnaire administered to professional nurses, enrolled nurses and enrolled nursing assistants. Phase 2(b): a questionnaire administered to operational managers of nursing, assistant managers of nursing and quality assurance managers. Simple random sampling yielded a response rate of 87.2% (436/500).
Results: Three dimensions – supervisor, manager or clinical leader support for patient safety; handoffs and information exchange and teamwork – had the highest average positive response rates. Staffing and work pace and reporting patient safety incidents had moderate average positive response rates. Five dimensions had low average positive rates: organisational learning – continuous improvement, communication openness, hospital management support for patient safety, response to error and overall perceptions of patient safety. The overall patient safety culture scored 51.26%, indicating a moderate average positive response rate.
Conclusion: The level of patient safety culture needs improvement.
Contribution: This study contributes to the comprehension of patient safety culture within public hospitals and provides healthcare leaders with improvement areas.