Patient Safety Leaders’ Perception of Patient Safety Practices in Eight Asia-Pacific Countries: Survey Based on the Global Patient Safety Action Plan Framework

Abstract

Introduction: This study aim was to assess patient safety leaders’ perception of patient safety practices in the Asia-Pacific region based on Strategic Objectives of the Global Patient Safety Action Plan (GPSAP) Framework. Methodology: A self-assessment survey tool with quantitative and qualitative components was sent to patient safety leaders from 25 healthcare facilities in 17 countries participating in the Global Action for Leaders & Learning Organizations on Patient Safety (GALLOPS) initiative, the majority of which were from LMICs in the Asia-Pacific region. The survey, based on the GPSAP’s 7 strategic objectives, covered 35 patient safety areas. Each area was rated on a scale from 1 (not established) to 5 (strongly established with good practices). The mean score of each strategic area, strategic objective, and overall strategic objective establishments were calculated. Good and sub-optimal practices of GALLOPS-participating countries were identified and tabulated according to GPSAP-defined patient safety strategies. Results: A total of 15 self-rated responses were received from patient safety leaders of 8 GALLOPS-participating Asia-Pacific countries’ healthcare facilities. The overall mean scores of the establishment level of all self-assessed strategic objectives were: Singapore (3.84), Malaysia (3.66), South Korea (3.56), India (3.20), Sri Lanka (3.09), Indonesia (2.48), Nepal (2.12), Maldives (1.94). The total mean score of the establishment level of all healthcare facilities’ strategic objectives was 2.99. Strategic Objective 3-Safety of clinical processes had the highest mean score of 3.41, while Strategic Objective 4-Patient and family engagement and Strategic Objective 7-Synergy, partnership and solidarity had 2.60 and 2.72, having two lowest mean scores for all countries’ healthcare facilities, respectively. Conclusion: Our study revealed substantial differences in perception of patient safety practices across healthcare facilities of Asia-Pacific countries and across the strategic objectives. This helped to establish a baseline of patient safety landscape in Asia-Pacific and represented opportunities for promoting equity and sustainability in healthcare as well as improving patient safety system and culture.