An evaluation of patient safety culture in a secondary care setting in Kuwait

OBJECTIVES: To improve patient safety outcomes, it is considered essential to create a positive culture of patient safety. This study carried out an initial evaluation of the patient safety culture in a secondary care setting in Kuwait. METHODS: This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in a general hospital medical department in Kuwait, using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSPSC). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify patient safety culture predictors. Both an ANOVA and a Kruskal Wallis test were carried out to assess the differences between participants' total scores and the scores they achieved in each dimension, categorized by nationality. RESULTS: A total of 1008 completed questionnaires were received, yielding a response rate of 75.2%. Three dimensions of patient safety culture were found to be priority areas for improvement: non-punitive responses to errors, staffing, and communication openness. Teamwork within units and organizational learning with continuous improvement were identified as areas of strength. Respondents from Kuwait and the Gulf State countries had a less positive perception of the hospital's patient safety culture than did Asian respondents. A regression analysis showed that the respondents' countries of origin, professions, age, and patient safety course/lecture attendance were significantly correlated with their perceptions of the hospital's patient safety culture. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that patient safety is perceived differently by medical staff members from different countries of origin, professional groups, and age groups. These variables must be acknowledged and addressed when planning or evaluating patient safety initiatives.