Abstract
Introduction: Patient safety is a global issue, since it affects all countries, regardless of their level of development. It is an important parameter of quality in healthcare as millions of patients worldwide suffering, injured or die each year due to providing of unsafe health care services. The adverse events in healthcare constitute a quantitative index and their reduction and prevention is the main aim of healthcare services. Aim of the study: The analysis of the attitudes of healthcare professionals in Greece, concerning the parameters of safety culture and the frequency of reporting adverse events in order to assess the climate of patient safety in hospitals in Greece and to explore the demographic and occupational factors which affect it. Material - Method: A number of 810 registered healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses with university and technological studies, nurse assistants, pharmacists, social workers, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech ...
Introduction: Patient safety is a global issue, since it affects all countries, regardless of their level of development. It is an important parameter of quality in healthcare as millions of patients worldwide suffering, injured or die each year due to providing of unsafe health care services. The adverse events in healthcare constitute a quantitative index and their reduction and prevention is the main aim of healthcare services. Aim of the study: The analysis of the attitudes of healthcare professionals in Greece, concerning the parameters of safety culture and the frequency of reporting adverse events in order to assess the climate of patient safety in hospitals in Greece and to explore the demographic and occupational factors which affect it. Material - Method: A number of 810 registered healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses with university and technological studies, nurse assistants, pharmacists, social workers, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists) who worked in twelve (12) hospitals (generals and specifics) in Attica and in the region. The survey‘s response rate was 58.9% and the research tool utilized for the survey purposes was the Greek translated version of the questionnaire «The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture» which was developed by Sorra and Nieva. For the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data used descriptive and conclusive statistical analysis. The categorical variables are presented as absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies, while quantitative variables are presented as mean, standard deviation, median, minimum value, maximum value, amplitude and interquartile range. The Kolmogorov - Smirnov test and graphs (histograms and normal Q-Q plots) were used to test the normality of the distribution of the continuous variables. To determine associations between categorical variables, we used Pearson‘s x² test and x² trend test, as appropriate. Independent samples t-test and analysis of variance were applied for the analysis of group differences within continuous variables. Correlation between continuous variables was assessed with Pearson's correlation coefficient. Concerning continuous variables as dependent variables, we used multivariate linear regression analysis in order to eliminate confounding, while in case of dichotomous variables as dependent variables, we used multivariate logistic regression analysis. Variables that were significantly different (p<0.20) in bivariate analyses were entered into the multivariate regression models. In regression models, P-values of less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. In both cases, we used backward stepwise methods. In logistic regression models, criteria for entry and removal of variables were based on the likelihood ratio test, with enter and remove limits set at p<0.05 and p>0.05. We estimated adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the independent variables included in the model. In linear regression models, we estimated adjusted coefficients' beta with 95% CI for the independent variables included in the model. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS 21.0. Results: The dimensions that received the highest positive response rate were - supervisor/manager expectations and actions promoting safety‖ (64%), and - organizational learning - continuous improvement‖ (55.6%) while those with the lowest rating and negative scoring included - non-punitive response to error‖ (18.5%), - staffing‖ (24.2%) and - hospital management support for patient safety‖ (30.2%). Most of the respondents (40.1%) reported that not completing any event reports in the last 12 months, (35%) reported completing 1-2 event reports in the last 12 months and (53.6%) gave their work unit an excellent/very good patient safety score. Conclusions: The HSOPSC survey results in our study demonstrated that the hospitals and health care organizations in Greece should develop strategies to improve health quality and ensure patient safety. These strategies include: providing training and education on patient safety for health care workers in different levels (undergraduate education, continuing education, lectures and meetings); allocating enough staff and adequate workload; developing and fostering patient safety culture especially in the form of a non-punitive culture, creating an open communication atmosphere for reporting medical errors and speaking up when any problem arises.
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