Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.11613/BM.2015.036

Assessment of patient safety culture in clinical laboratories in the Spanish National Health System

Angeles Giménez-Marín ; CMU of Clinical Laboratory, Antequera Hospital, Antequera, Spain
Francisco Rivas-Ruiz ; Hospital Research Unit, Costa del Sol Hospital, Málaga, Spain
Ana M. García-Raja ; Clinical Laboratory, University Hospital Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Rafael Venta-Obaya ; CMU of Clinical Biochemistry, San Agustín Hospital, Avilés, Spain
Margarita Fusté-Ventosa ; Area Laboratory, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain
Inmaculada Caballé-Martín ; Clinical Laboratory, CatLab, Viladecavalls, Barcelona, Spain
Alfonso Benítez-Estevez ; Clinical Analysis Service, Integrated Management Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Ana I. Quinteiro-García ; CMU of the University Hospital Laboratories Araba, Osakidetza, Vitoria, Spain
José Luis Bedini ; Core Laboratory, Clinical Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
Antonio Leon-Justel ; CMU Clinical Analysis, Hospital Complex Huelva, Huelva, Spain
Montserrat Torra-Puig ; UDIAT Centre Diagnostic, Sanitary Corporation Parc Tauli, Sabadell, Spain

Abstract

Introduction: There is increasing awareness of the importance of transforming organisational culture in order to raise safety standards. This paper describes the results obtained from an evaluation of patient safety culture in a sample of clinical laboratories in public hospitals in the Spanish National Health System.
Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among health workers employed in the clinical laboratories of 27 public hospitals in 2012. The participants were recruited by the heads of service at each of the participating centers. Stratified analyses were performed to assess the mean score, standardized to a base of 100, of the six survey factors, together with the overall patient safety score.
Results: 740 completed questionnaires were received (88% of the 840 issued). The highest standardized scores were obtained in Area 1 (individual, social and cultural) with a mean value of 77 (95%CI: 76-78), and the lowest ones, in Area 3 (equipment and resources), with a mean value of 58 (95%CI: 57-59). In all areas, a greater perception of patient safety was reported by the heads of service than by other staff.
Conclusions: We present the first multicentre study to evaluate the culture of clinical safety in public hospital laboratories in Spain. The results obtained evidence a culture in which high regard is paid to safety, probably due to the pattern of continuous quality improvement. Nevertheless, much remains to be done, as reflected by the weaknesses detected, which identify areas and strategies for improvement.

Keywords

patient safety; clinical laboratory services; questionnaires; cross-sectional studies; public hospital; universal safety measures; total quality management

Hrčak ID:

148680

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/148680

Publication date:

15.10.2015.

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