Evaluation of patient safety culture among healthcare workers in hospitals and family medicine centers in Hadhramaut Governorate, Yemen
Ali Mohamed Batarfi1, Wafa Hag Alshoaib2, Suha Ali Batarfi3, Hana Hasan Webair3, Ebtehal Mohammed Alhendi4, Aseel Salem Basuraih5
1College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Al-Arab University, 2Shaheer Family Medicine Centre, Ministry of Public Health and Population and Al-Arab University College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Al-Mukalla, Yemen , 3Hadhraomut University, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Al-Mukalla, Yemen , 4Ibn Sina General Hospital, Ministry of Public Health and Population, 5Al-Arab University College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Al-Mukalla, Yemen
2 Corresponding author.
Wafa Hag Alshoaib
Tel.: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
E-mail address: drwafahaj2021@gmail.com
Abstract
Introduction: Patient safety is a global public health problem that affects countries at all levels of development. It is defined by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) as “the freedom from accidental injury due to medical care or medical errors”. Developing a positive patient safety culture is a vital element in the improvement of patient safety in healthcare organizations. The present study aims to assess the patient safety culture among healthcare workers in hospitals and family medicine centers in Hadhramaut Governorate, Yemen.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in all public and university hospitals in Al-Mukalla district and family medicine centers in the Hadhramaut coastal region during the period from the first of July to the 30th of August 2023. Data were collected comprehensively among healthcare workers by using the Arabic version of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (Version 2.0) and the Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture. Descriptive analysis was done using SPSS software and the Microsoft Excel tool.
Results: The recent study included 408 healthcare workers in hospitals and 165 in family medicine centers, with a response rate of 76%. The patient safety culture average positive response for all dimensions was 48% and 68% in hospitals and family medicine centers, respectively. The safety culture dimensions with the highest positive response scores in both the hospitals and family medicine centers were teamwork (73% and 96%, respectively), followed by organizational learning (59% and 85%, respectively). Response to error (31%), reporting patient safety events (37%), and communication openness (40%) were the dimensions with the lowest scores in hospitals, while work pressure and pace (51%), communication openness (55%), and patient tracking (58%) received the lowest scores in family medicine centers. Regarding patient safety ratings, only 35% of respondents gave their hospital a positive rating, compared with 59% in family medicine centers. About half of the respondents (54%) had not reported any event in the last 12 months, and 86% of them had direct contact with patients in hospitals. Regarding the overall positive response of the quality domains in family medicine centers, it ranged between 37% for patient-centeredness and 79% for equitable care.
Conclusion: The patient safety culture in Hadhramaut Governorate still has many areas for improvement, especially in hospitals, and requires continuous assessment and monitoring to achieve a safe environment for patients and healthcare workers.
Keywords: patient safety, patient safety culture, hospital survey, family medicine, healthcare workers, Hadhramaut, Al-Mukalla, Yemen.
02-100-020/PS © 2023 ALARAB UNIVERSITY. All rights reserved
Biography
Dr. Wafa Hag Omar Al-Shaeeb
family doctor ,Director of Shuhair health center,1st year student PHD public health HUCOM