Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: In the World Health Organisation initiated High 5s project a multi-national learning community has set itself the goal of reducing three serious patient safety problems by implementing standardized operating protocols (SOP). One component within the scope of the project is to conduct a survey on patient safety culture in participating hospitals on a voluntary basis.
Method: The present study is based upon the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS) of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The survey was validated with more than 1,400 hospital employees from 21 hospitals across the US. For the realisation of the survey in German hospitals within the High 5s Project, the HSOPS was translated into German and adapted according to national data protection regulations. The statistical evaluation is carried out by the research group Westat®. In the scope of the High 5s Project, the survey is to be conducted at two points in time.
Results: In the first inquiry period, the HSOPS was conducted at some participating hospitals. The results of the HSOPS grouped according to the 12 safety culture dimensions show that Communication Openness has the highest rate of positive response and Organizational Learning Continuous Improvement is rated lowest.
Conclusions: About a third of the participating hospitals conducted the survey in spite of the higher workload for hospital staff. Based on the safety culture dimensions, certain organisational factors concerning patient safety can be described in addition to the High 5s SOP indicators. First trends are apparent as measured by the rate of positive response. The second survey period will demonstrate if conclusions can be reached regarding a change in the perspectives of patient safety by employees as a result of implementing the SOP.
Method: The present study is based upon the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS) of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The survey was validated with more than 1,400 hospital employees from 21 hospitals across the US. For the realisation of the survey in German hospitals within the High 5s Project, the HSOPS was translated into German and adapted according to national data protection regulations. The statistical evaluation is carried out by the research group Westat®. In the scope of the High 5s Project, the survey is to be conducted at two points in time.
Results: In the first inquiry period, the HSOPS was conducted at some participating hospitals. The results of the HSOPS grouped according to the 12 safety culture dimensions show that Communication Openness has the highest rate of positive response and Organizational Learning Continuous Improvement is rated lowest.
Conclusions: About a third of the participating hospitals conducted the survey in spite of the higher workload for hospital staff. Based on the safety culture dimensions, certain organisational factors concerning patient safety can be described in addition to the High 5s SOP indicators. First trends are apparent as measured by the rate of positive response. The second survey period will demonstrate if conclusions can be reached regarding a change in the perspectives of patient safety by employees as a result of implementing the SOP.