The development of patient safety culture

Background: Assessing the organization's existing safety culture is the first stage of developing a safety culture. Patient safety culture assessments, required by international accreditation organizations, allow healthcare organizations to obtain a clear view of the patient safety aspects requiring urgent attention, identify the strengths and weaknesses of their safety culture, help care giving units identify their existing patient safety problems, and benchmark their scores with other hospitals. Aim: The aim of the present study was review the literature about the development of patient safety culture from the nursing staff. Method and Material: Method was used is to search in databases (PUBMED, SCOPUS) to identify articles related to the patient safety culture. The search took place in March 2011 for scientific papers until March 2011. The keywords used in combination, were: patient, safety, culture, nursing and staff. Results: Patient safety is identified as a key element of concern in the health care environment. Α broad range of safety culture properties organized into seven subcultures: leadership, teamwork, evidence-based care, communication, learning, just, patient-centered care. Conclusions: Patient safety culture is a complex phenomenon. Patient safety culture assessments, required by international accreditation organizations, allow healthcare organizations to obtain a clear view of the patient safety aspects requiring urgent attention, identify the strengths and weaknesses of their safety culture, help care giving units identify their existing patient safety problems, and benchmark their scores with other hospitals.

Author(s): Stavrianopoulos Theodosios

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