Patient safety culture in home care settings in Sweden: a cross-sectional survey among home care professionals
Abstract Background The connection between a weak patient safety culture and adverse patient events is well known, but although most long-term care is provided outside of hospitals, the focus of patient safety culture is most commonly on inpatient care. In Sweden, more than a third of people who rec...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10010-y |
| _version_ | 1797577163197644800 |
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| author | Anastasia Silverglow Helle Wijk Eva Lidén Lena Johansson |
| author_facet | Anastasia Silverglow Helle Wijk Eva Lidén Lena Johansson |
| author_sort | Anastasia Silverglow |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The connection between a weak patient safety culture and adverse patient events is well known, but although most long-term care is provided outside of hospitals, the focus of patient safety culture is most commonly on inpatient care. In Sweden, more than a third of people who receive care at home have been affected by adverse events, with the majority judged to be preventable. The aim of this study was to investigate the patient safety culture among care professionals working in care at home with older people. Methods This cross-sectional study used a purposive sample of 66 municipal care workers, health care professionals, and rehabilitation staff from five municipal care units in two districts in western Sweden who provided care at home for older people and had been employed for at least six months. The participants completed the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) self-report questionnaire, which assessed aspects of patient safety culture—norms, beliefs, and attitudes. Logistic regression analysis was used to test how the global ratings of Patient safety grade in the care units and Reporting of patient safety events were related to the dimensions of safety culture according to the staff’s professions and years of work experience. Results The most positively rated safety culture dimension was Teamwork within care units (82%), which indicates good cooperation with the closest co-workers. The least positively rated dimensions were Handoffs and transitions among care units (37%) and Management support (37%), which indicate weaknesses in the exchange of patient information across care units and limited support from top-level managers. The global rating of Patient safety grade was associated with Communication openness and Management support (p < 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). Staff with less work experience evaluated the Patient safety grade higher than those with more work experience. Conclusions This study suggests that improvements are needed in care transitions and in support from top-level managers and that awareness of patient safety should be improved in staff with less work experience. The results also highlight that an open communication climate within the care unit is important for patient safety. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:05:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3574f7097ab44eeb9f5c4cd89776902f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:05:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-3574f7097ab44eeb9f5c4cd89776902f2023-11-19T12:49:54ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632023-09-0123111010.1186/s12913-023-10010-yPatient safety culture in home care settings in Sweden: a cross-sectional survey among home care professionalsAnastasia Silverglow0Helle Wijk1Eva Lidén2Lena Johansson3Institute of Health and Care Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgInstitute of Health and Care Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgInstitute of Health and Care Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgInstitute of Health and Care Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgAbstract Background The connection between a weak patient safety culture and adverse patient events is well known, but although most long-term care is provided outside of hospitals, the focus of patient safety culture is most commonly on inpatient care. In Sweden, more than a third of people who receive care at home have been affected by adverse events, with the majority judged to be preventable. The aim of this study was to investigate the patient safety culture among care professionals working in care at home with older people. Methods This cross-sectional study used a purposive sample of 66 municipal care workers, health care professionals, and rehabilitation staff from five municipal care units in two districts in western Sweden who provided care at home for older people and had been employed for at least six months. The participants completed the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) self-report questionnaire, which assessed aspects of patient safety culture—norms, beliefs, and attitudes. Logistic regression analysis was used to test how the global ratings of Patient safety grade in the care units and Reporting of patient safety events were related to the dimensions of safety culture according to the staff’s professions and years of work experience. Results The most positively rated safety culture dimension was Teamwork within care units (82%), which indicates good cooperation with the closest co-workers. The least positively rated dimensions were Handoffs and transitions among care units (37%) and Management support (37%), which indicate weaknesses in the exchange of patient information across care units and limited support from top-level managers. The global rating of Patient safety grade was associated with Communication openness and Management support (p < 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). Staff with less work experience evaluated the Patient safety grade higher than those with more work experience. Conclusions This study suggests that improvements are needed in care transitions and in support from top-level managers and that awareness of patient safety should be improved in staff with less work experience. The results also highlight that an open communication climate within the care unit is important for patient safety.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10010-yPatient safety cultureHome careHSOPSCCross-sectional study |
| spellingShingle | Anastasia Silverglow Helle Wijk Eva Lidén Lena Johansson Patient safety culture in home care settings in Sweden: a cross-sectional survey among home care professionals BMC Health Services Research Patient safety culture Home care HSOPSC Cross-sectional study |
| title | Patient safety culture in home care settings in Sweden: a cross-sectional survey among home care professionals |
| title_full | Patient safety culture in home care settings in Sweden: a cross-sectional survey among home care professionals |
| title_fullStr | Patient safety culture in home care settings in Sweden: a cross-sectional survey among home care professionals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patient safety culture in home care settings in Sweden: a cross-sectional survey among home care professionals |
| title_short | Patient safety culture in home care settings in Sweden: a cross-sectional survey among home care professionals |
| title_sort | patient safety culture in home care settings in sweden a cross sectional survey among home care professionals |
| topic | Patient safety culture Home care HSOPSC Cross-sectional study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10010-y |
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