Perceptions of Patient Safety Culture Among Triage Nurses in the Emergency Department: A Cross-Sectional Study

Overview

Journal Healthcare (Basel)

Specialty Health Services

Date 2023 Dec 22

PMID 38132045

Authors

Zvonka Fekonja

Sergej Kmetec

Natasa Mlinar Reljic

Jozica cerne Kolaric

Majda Pajnkihar

Matej Strnad

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The patient safety culture is key to ensuring patient safety in healthcare organizations. The triage environment is inherently demanding for patient safety and is characterized by high stress, rapid decision-making, and quick action. In several countries, including Slovenia, there is a lack of studies on the patient safety culture among triage nurses. This study aimed to assess the perceptions of the patient safety culture among triage nurses. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The Emergency Medical Services-Safety Attitudes Questionnaire, distributed to triage nurses, was used to collect data. A total of 201 triage nurses participated in this study. The results revealed that the overall average perception of the patient safety culture was 57.27% ( = 57.27), indicating that the perception of the patient safety culture among triage nurses in the emergency department was non-positive and requires improvement. "Job Satisfaction" received the highest score (63.18%; = 17.19), while "Working Conditions" received the lowest (49.91%; = 17.37). The perception of positive and negative safety culture responses was statistically significant for age ( (3) = 17.750, ≤ 0.001), education ( (2) = 6.957, = 0.031) and length of working experience ( (3) = 8.875, = 0.031). The findings emphasize the significance of improving the safety culture in relation to several areas of patient care during the triage process. This research serves as a crucial foundation for enhancing patient safety in triage, providing quality care, and reducing adverse events.

References

Johnson K, Schumacher D, Lee R . Identifying Strategies for the Management of Interruptions for Novice Triage Nurses Using an Online Modified Delphi Method. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2021; 53(6):718-726. DOI: 10.1111/jnu.12683. View

Lee W, Wung H, Liao H, Lo C, Chang F, Wang P . Hospital safety culture in Taiwan: a nationwide survey using Chinese version Safety Attitude Questionnaire. BMC Health Serv Res. 2010; 10:234. PMC: 2924859. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-10-234. View

Alquwez N, Cruz J, Almoghairi A, Al-Otaibi R, Almutairi K, Alicante J . Nurses' Perceptions of Patient Safety Culture in Three Hospitals in Saudi Arabia. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2018; 50(4):422-431. DOI: 10.1111/jnu.12394. View

Penconek T, Tate K, Bernardes A, Lee S, Micaroni S, Balsanelli A . Determinants of nurse manager job satisfaction: A systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2021; 118:103906. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103906. View

Tuncer Unver G, Harmanci Seren A . Defining the patient safety attitudes and influencing factors of health professionals working at maternity hospitals. J Nurs Manag. 2018; 26(5):579-586. DOI: 10.1111/jonm.12585. View

Rigobello M, Carvalho R, Guerreiro J, Motta A, Atila E, Gimenes F . The perception of the patient safety climate by professionals of the emergency department. Int Emerg Nurs. 2017; 33:1-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.ienj.2017.03.003. View

Samsuri S, Pei Lin L, Fahrni M . Safety culture perceptions of pharmacists in Malaysian hospitals and health clinics: a multicentre assessment using the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire. BMJ Open. 2015; 5(11):e008889. PMC: 4663412. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008889. View

El-Sherbiny N, Ibrahim E, Abdel-Wahed W . Assessment of patient safety culture among paramedical personnel at general and district hospitals, Fayoum Governorate, Egypt. J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2020; 95(1):4. PMC: 7364723. DOI: 10.1186/s42506-019-0031-8. View

Bondevik G, Hofoss D, Husebo B, Deilkas E . Patient safety culture in Norwegian nursing homes. BMC Health Serv Res. 2017; 17(1):424. PMC: 5479007. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-017-2387-9. View

10.

Malak M, Salouk J, Al-Shawawreh R, Al-Kamiseh H, Ayed A . Perceptions of patient safety culture among emergency room nurses in Jordanian accredited hospitals. J Nurs Manag. 2022; 30(7):3131-3138. DOI: 10.1111/jonm.13729. View

11.

Venesoja A, Lindstrom V, Aronen P, Castren M, Tella S . Exploring safety culture in the Finnish ambulance service with Emergency Medical Services Safety Attitudes Questionnaire. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2021; 29(1):148. PMC: 8507218. DOI: 10.1186/s13049-021-00960-9. View

12.

Farrohknia N, Castren M, Ehrenberg A, Lind L, Oredsson S, Jonsson H . Emergency department triage scales and their components: a systematic review of the scientific evidence. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2011; 19:42. PMC: 3150303. DOI: 10.1186/1757-7241-19-42. View

13.

Kosydar-Bochenek J, Religa D, Knap M, Czop M, Knap B, Medrzycka-Dabrowska W . Safety climate perceived by pre-hospital emergency care personnel-an international cross-sectional study. Front Public Health. 2023; 11:1192315. PMC: 10390026. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1192315. View

14.

Alumran A, Alkhaldi O, Aldroorah Z, Alsayegh Z, Alsafwani F, Almaghraby N . Utilization of an Electronic Triage System by Emergency Department Nurses. J Multidiscip Healthc. 2020; 13:339-344. PMC: 7128074. DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S250962. View

15.

Sasso L, Bagnasco A, Catania G, Zanini M, Aleo G, Watson R . Push and pull factors of nurses' intention to leave. J Nurs Manag. 2019; 27(5):946-954. DOI: 10.1111/jonm.12745. View

16.

Hu S, Wang T, Ramalho N, Zhou D, Hu X, Zhao H . Relationship between patient safety culture and safety performance in nursing: The role of safety behaviour. Int J Nurs Pract. 2021; 27(4):e12937. DOI: 10.1111/ijn.12937. View

17.

Lambrou P, Papastavrou E, Merkouris A, Middleton N . Professional environment and patient safety in emergency departments. Int Emerg Nurs. 2014; 23(2):150-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.ienj.2014.07.009. View

18.

Sexton J, Helmreich R, Neilands T, Rowan K, Vella K, Boyden J . The Safety Attitudes Questionnaire: psychometric properties, benchmarking data, and emerging research. BMC Health Serv Res. 2006; 6:44. PMC: 1481614. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-6-44. View

19.

Wu A, Busch I . Patient safety: a new basic science for professional education. GMS J Med Educ. 2019; 36(2):Doc21. PMC: 6446473. DOI: 10.3205/zma001229. View

20.

Khater W, Akhu-Zaheya L, Al-Mahasneh S, Khater R . Nurses' perceptions of patient safety culture in Jordanian hospitals. Int Nurs Rev. 2014; 62(1):82-91. DOI: 10.1111/inr.12155. View