HEALTH PROFESSIONALS' LITERACY ABOUT PATIENT SAFETY

Identifier:  imarina:9373751

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9373751

Authors:  Amaral C; Sequeira C; Albacar-Riobóo N; Pinho L; Ferré-Grau C

Abstract:
Introduction: Patient safety is a critical global public health issue, focused on a care delivery system that prevents errors and is built on a safety culture involving all healthcare professionals, organizations, and patients. Objective: To evaluate the level of health professionals' literacy regarding patient safety at a hospital center in the central region of Portugal. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the level of patient safety literacy among healthcare professionals. A sample of 300 professionals from a hospital center in central Portugal answered the World Health Organisation's ‘Questionnaire to Evaluate the Implementation of the Multiprofessional Guide.’ Most of the health professionals included in the study were female (76.3%), 50.3% were in the 36-50 age group and the majority were nurses (90%). Results: 44.0% of the respondents demonstrated low literacy in the "Error and Patient Safety" dimension. Similarly, 44.7% exhibited low literacy in the "Health System Safety" dimension. Regarding the "Personal Influence on Safety" dimension, more than half of the sample (52.7%) showed high literacy. Lastly, the majority of respondents displayed low literacy (54.7%) in the "Personal Attitudes towards Patient Safety" dimension. Conclusion: The findings indicate significant gaps in healthcare professionals' literacy concerning patient safety, predominantly in the "Personal Attitudes towards Patient Safety" dimension. Therefore, it is essential that healthcare professionals receive further training in patient safety to ensure the public's trust in their professional practices and confidence in the healthcare system. This translation is tailored for submission to a high-impact Q1 scientific journal, ensuring the use of precise and specialized technical English suitable for an academic audience.