Assessment of Patient and Occupational Safety Culture in Hospitals: Development of a Questionnaire with Comparable Dimensions and Results of a Feasibility Study in a German University Hospital

Anke Wagner, Martina Michaelis, Edwin Luntz, Andrea Wittich, Matthias Schrappe, Constanze Lessing and Monika A. Rieger
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Anke Wagner: Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital of Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
Martina Michaelis: Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital of Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
Edwin Luntz: Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital of Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
Andrea Wittich: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Hauptstraße 8, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
Matthias Schrappe: Cologne Institute for Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital Cologne (AöR), Gleueler Straße 176, 50935 Köln, Germany
Constanze Lessing: Institute for Patient Safety, University Hospital of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Straße 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany
Monika A. Rieger: Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital of Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-24

Abstract: (1) Background: Both patient and occupational safety cultures should be considered when promoting safety culture. To our knowledge, there are no studies that capture patient safety culture (PSC) and occupational safety culture (OSC) in hospitals while using a common questionnaire. The aim of this feasibility study in a German university hospital was to develop a questionnaire to assess both issues analogously. In addition to feasibility outcomes, we report results of PSC-OSC comparisons. (2) Methods: To assess PSC, we used the existing Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSPSC) questionnaire. Developing new OSC “twin items” for certain parts of the HSPSC was supported by a previous literature review. Additionally, we developed multiple choice questions to examine knowledge and competencies regarding specific PS/OS aspects. (3) Results: Developing and implementing a combined PSC and OSC assessment instrument was feasible. The overall response rate was 33% (407 nurses, 140 physicians). In general, the statistical reliability of almost all scales was sufficient. Positive PSC perceptions (agreement rates 46–87%) were found in 16 out of 18 scales. Of the four twin scales, the PSC values were significantly better. Individual PS- and OS-related knowledge and competencies were lower than expected. (4) Conclusion: The comparative investigation of patient and occupational safety in a large hospital is a promising approach and can be recommended for further studies. We used our experiences that are presented here in an ongoing bicentric study on the associations between working conditions, occupational safety culture, patient safety culture, and patient safety outcomes (WorkSafeMed).

Keywords: occupational safety culture; patient safety culture; instrument development; survey; health care workers; hospital; feasibility study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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