PERCEPTION OF PATIENT SAFETY CULTURE AMONG DOCTORS AT THE SECURITY FORCES HOSPITAL, MAKKAH CITY

Patient Safety is an international challenge. Thousands of patients around the world experience medical disability or death due to unsafe medical care. The assessment of Patient Safety Culture (PSC) is under-researched in Saudi Arabia. PSC assessment provides a clear picture of organisational culture, particularly the underlying norms, beliefs and values. Objectives: To describe doctors’ perceptions of PSC, their supervisors’ attitudes and the communication regarding PS at Security Forces Hospital (SFH). To identify strengths and areas for PSC improvements and to compare the SFH results with international results. Methods: This dissertation used a cross-sectional descriptive design using a quantitative research approach, which is the Hospital Survey On PSC. The survey was completed by 103 doctors with a high response rate of 83%. Results: The overall perceptions of PS at SFH was positive (53%). However, none of the PSC dimensions was considered an area of strength and three dimensions were considered weak areas which needed action to be improved. These dimensions are: staffing (24%), non-punitive response to error (21%) and handoffs and transitions (48%). The communications and management dimensions were considered positive which is comparable to international hospitals. There was wide variation between the departments. Conclusion: This dissertation highlights dimensions of weakness and strengths in SFH. The recommendations include improving communication, unifying hospital strategy to improve PSC, increasing staff numbers and involving doctors in establishing a non-punitive response to error and a “no blame” culture .