Measuring patient safety culture among nurses in adult critical care units in a private hospital group in Gauteng

Abstract

Background: Healthcare workers are taught the ethical principle of “do no harm” to maintain patient safety; however, this principle is recently facing challenges in the healthcare setting. A safety culture encompasses the values, attitudes, perceptions, competencies and behavioural patterns that shape health and safety management. Critical care units (CCUs) are high-risk nursing units that deliver advanced care to critically ill/injured patients. The Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ) is a widely used tool to measure safety culture. The aim of the study was to assess the safety culture in adult critical care units in a specific private hospital group in Gauteng, South Africa.

Objectives: To assess and describe the safety culture among critical care nurses and to propose recommendations to enhance patient safety culture in the critical care units.

Methods: A quantitative descriptive design was used in this study. The safety attitude questionnaire was used to measure the safety culture of nurses, which could influence patient safety, in four critical care units of a specific private hospital group. Total population sampling was used in this study which included all registered and enrolled nurses working in the critical care units. Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire distributed to eligible participants, and data analysis was performed in collaboration with a university statistician.

Results: This study used the safety attitude questionnaire to determine the safety culture in the critical care units. Six (6) domains were measured to determine the patient safety culture, three of which indicated areas of concern. The results showed that stress recognition, perception of management and working conditions have a significant impact on patient safety culture, which could contribute to an increase in patient safety incidents.

Conclusion: The findings from the safety attitude questionnaire at the specific hospital group highlighted both strengths and areas for improvement in the critical care units related to patient safety culture. Teamwork, safety climate and job satisfaction reflected positive aspects of patient safety culture. However, a significant challenge was identified regarding stress recognition and working conditions, posing a risk to individual wellbeing and patient safety. The perception of the management domain was perceived as negative, which also indicated a challenge relating to patient safety.