Differences Between Nursing and Medical Professionals Regarding the Surgical Patient Safety Culture

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether the perception of the surgical patient safety culture differs between nursing and medical professionals working in a Brazilian public educational institution. Method: Survey and cross-sectional study conducted in a hospital in southern Brazil. The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture questionnaire was applied to 158 professionals between May and September 2017. The 12 dimensions were analyzed by descriptive, inferential statistics and internal consistency test. Dimensions with indexes ≥75% were considered strengthened. Results: There was fragility in the safety culture, with a lower index in the dimension “Nonpunitive response to error”, with 23.9% and 13.9%, respectively, between nursing and medicine. More positive scores were considered by nursing in eight dimensions, with difference (p<0.05) in relation to medical professionals. Conclusion: The safety culture differs between the two professional categories, with more positive responses by nursing; however, actions are necessary to strengthen the surgical patient safety in both professional groups.