Strategies for strengthening safety culture in intensive care units

Abstract

Objective: identify promotion strategies that contribute to strengthening patient safety culture in intensive care units. Method: in this qualitative, descriptive study, data were collected in 2016 by semi-structured interviews of five physicians, five nurses and 24 nursing technicians working in intensive care units at two hospitals in southern Brazil, and analyzed using discursive textual analysis. The study was approved by the research ethics committee. Results: three categories emerged: implementation of patient safety protocols; institutional and multi-professional involvement and patient safety in continuing professional development. Conclusion: health personnel considered the implementation of health care protocols, the inclusion of safety as a topic in continued professional development and the involvement of both the institution and the multi-professional team to be the main strategies for promoting and strengthening patient safety culture. Descriptors: Nursing; patient safety; organizational culture; intensive care units.