Relationship between Patient Safety Culture and Adverse Events in Hospital: A case study

Abstract

Introduction: Patient safety culture is an important factor in reducing hospital's adverse event and improving patient safety. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between patient safety culture and adverse events in hospitals of Hamadan city. Methods: The present study was a descriptive-analytical study which was performed in hospitals of Hamadan in 2018. The study population consisted of nurses working in hospitals. The patient safety culture questionnaire and adverse event checklist were used for data collection. Questionnaires were completed by 650 nurses. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between the variables. Results: The highest mean score of patient safety culture was related to the dimension of organizational learning, and the lowest score was for exchange and transfer of information. 35.4 percent of nurses said they had seen at least one patient fall in the past year (the least adverse event). Moreover, 51.9 percent of nurses stated that at least one pressure ulcer, or a complaint by a patient or his/her family had happened at their workplace in the past year (the most adverse event). Finally, the mean score of the patient safety culture had a significant relationship with the incidence of adverse events. Conclusion: This study confirms the patient safety culture as a predictor of adverse events. Hence, health officials and hospital administrators should provide prerequisites for promoting patient safety culture and reducing adverse events through different strategies, such as encouraging adverse events reporting as well as holding nurse training courses.