Self-Learning Package Related to Patient Safety Goals and its effect on Nurse Interns' Performance and Awareness of Patient Safety Culture

Abstract

Background: The International Patient Safety Goals (IPSGs) are used to improve the quality of care. Nurse interns’ proper understanding of patient safety is essential ingraining this concept. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a self-learning package related to patient safety goals on nurse interns' performance and awareness of patient safety culture. Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted at Ain-Shams University Hospitals using a quasi-experimental design with pre-post assessment on 110 nurse interns. The data collection tools were Patient safety knowledge questionnaire, Patient safety culture awareness questionnaire, and an observation checklist for nurse interns' safety performance. A Self-Learning Package was prepared and distributed to nurse interns. Its impact was evaluated after one and three months. Results: The nurse interns’ median age was 23.0 years, with a majority of females (67.3%). Before the intervention, 40.0% had satisfactory knowledge, which rose to 100.0% at the postintervention phase, and declined to 94.5% at the follow-up phase (p<0.001). Their awareness increased from 40.9% to 88.2% in the post-intervention phase, and slightly declined to 80.0% at follow-up (p<0.001). Overall, 50.0% had total adequate performance of IPSGs, which increased to 96.4% in the post-intervention phase, and slightly declined to 93.6% at the follow-up phase (p<0.001). Significant positive correlations were revealed among knowledge, awareness, and performance scores. The study intervention was a statistically significant independent positive predictor of all three scores. Conclusion and recommendations: The application of the developed self-learning package is effective in improving nurse interns’ knowledge of patient safety, awareness of patient safety culture, and performance of patient safety goals. The study recommends its use.