Evaluation of Patient Safety Culture: A Survey of Clinicians in a Cardiovascular Operating Room

Abstract

The aim of this study was to understand the perceived safety culture and attitudes of caregivers in a large cardiovascular operating room (CVOR) in a mid-Atlantic state where more than 1500 procedures are performed annually to include ventricular assist device placement and heart and lung transplantations. We analyzed deidentified data obtained from a safety survey completed anonymously by frontline caregivers in the CVOR via the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire developed by Pasquel Metrics. The responses from the CVOR clinicians were overall positive for their perceptions of the CVOR safety climate, with the majority saying they would feel safe being treated as a patient, liked their job, and were aware of the proper channels regarding patient safety. However, many made claims of experiencing fatigue and stress due to an excessive workload and participation in emergency situations. Furthermore, the support/clinical perfusion teams were found to have experienced the greatest amount of stress and discomfort, whereas it seems the surgeons were impacted the least. This study suggests that reactions to different situations in the operating room are dependent on the role of the caregiver. Therefore, interventions to improve communication among the caregivers must be geared on an individual group basis.