A Comparative Descriptive Analysis of the Strategies used by Health-care Professionals at a Rural Hospital in Jamaica to Promote Patient Safety

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the principal strategies used by the healthcare providers at a rural hospital in Jamaica (JA) with the data published in the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture report in the United States (2014) regarding the promotion of patient safety. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during two months via the non-probability sampling method. Data of 240 healthcare providers were collected using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC). Comparative data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 21, Excel TM software, and the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture report (United States, 2014). Results: Response rate of the survey was 25%. Composite scores of the Excel TM software determined the most prominent strategies of patient safety promotion in hospitals, as follows: “supervisor/manager expectations and actions to promote patient safety” (JA: 78%, US: 76%), “teamwork within units” (JA: 77%, US: 81%), and “organizational learning/continuous improvement” (JA: 72%, US: 73%). However, dimensions of “staffing” (JA: 47%, US: 55%) and “non-punitive response to error” (JA: 37%, US: 44%) required improvement in both countries. Positive perception of the patient safety culture was higher in the United States (66%) compared to Jamaica (59%). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, further improvement is required in the aspects of open communication to report medical errors, supervisory/healthcare management, and collaboration of all stakeholders to enhance the quality of care delivery and patient safety across the world.