Perceptions of Patient Safety Culture among Healthcare Professionals in Public Hospitals in Kaduna State, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Background: Establishing a culture of patient safety in the healthcare system is essential to making improvements in the quality of care and patient outcomes. Aim: To assess the perceptions of patient safety culture among healthcare professionals (HCPs) in selected public hospitals in Kaduna state, Nigeria.
 Methods: A cross-sectional survey using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) was conducted. Data was collected from healthcare professionals (medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists) from four (4) public hospitals that met the inclusion criteria. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23 and summarized as percentages, means, and standard deviations. The chi-square test was used to examine statistical associations between HCP characteristics and outcome variables.
 Results: Three hundred and fifty-eight (358) questionnaires were completed and returned (response rate of 84.8%). The overall average of the percent positive response of patient safety culture across the health facilities was 55.6%. 'Teamwork within units' was the dimension with the greatest strength (81.3%). The dimensions with the most potential for improvement with average positive responses below 50% were 'Staffing' (34.4%), 'Frequency of events reported' (36.8%), and 'Non-punitive response to errors' (40.5%). A higher percentage of pharmacists (n=25, 48.1%) compared to other HCPs had reported at least an error in the preceding 12 months, and this was statistically significant (p < .001).
 Conclusion: Overall perception of patient safety culture was slightly above average (55.6%) with four out of twelve dimensions measured having an average score below 50%. Further assessment of patient safety culture, particularly in the areas with poor responses is required to improve the quality of care and promote healthcare improvement.