Safety culture: perception of health professionals in a mental hospital

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the culture of patient safety in a mental health service. METHOD: Cross-sectional study conducted with health professionals in a mental hospital, by applying the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ). Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed. RESULTS: One-hundred and three professionals participated in the study, with female predominance (64.1%) and time of performance equal to or greater than 21 years (32.4%). The nursing professionals of technical level and with statutory work regime were the most participative, 54.4% and 52% respectively. The total score was 69 points. The domain that reached the highest score was Job satisfaction (80 points) and the lowest was Working conditions (57 points). The statutory professionals and those with longer professional experience obtained better scores in the perception of safety culture. CONCLUSION: The result of safety culture was below the recommended, indicating the need for strengthening this construct in mental health hospitals.