Exploring the patient safety culture in preventive medicine settings: an experience from Northern Italy
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Keywords

patient safety
staff culture
territorial preventive care
Italy

Abstract

Introduction

Patient safety and quality in healthcare are inseparable. Examining patient safety culture in staff members contributes to further develop quality in healthcare. In Italy there has been some experience involving hospital staff. In this study we explored the safety culture in public health staff working in the Italian Local Health Authorities.

Methods

We carried out a descriptive cross sectional study in four Italian territorial Prevention facilities in Northern Italy. We administrated via web an adapted Italian version of the US Hospital Survey of Patient Safety Culture to all the staff. The survey consisted of 10 dimensions based on 33 items, according to results of previous psychometric validation.

Results

Seventy% of the staff responded to the survey (n. 479). Overall, six out of the 10 dimensions exhibited composites scores of positive responses frequency for patient safety culture below 50%. While communication openness (65%) was the most developed factor, team work across Units (37%) was the poorest one. The highest composites scores were obtained by the Management and the Public Health Laboratory, across the work areas, and by the Physicians, across the professional categories. The patient safety culture in the staff participating in this study was poorer than in hospital staff.

Discussion

Our descriptive cross sectional study has been the first one to be carried out in preventive medicine settings in Italy. It has clearly indicated the need of improvement. Consequently, several interventions with this aim have been implemented.
https://doi.org/10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2017.58.2.603
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