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Table 2 Scores and items of the 10 dimensions of patient safety culture

From: Patient safety culture as perceived by operating room professionals: a mixed-methods study

Items of patient safety culture dimensions

Absolute frequency (n)

Average positive response (%)

D1: Overall perceptions of safety

 

33.8

Patient safety is never sacrificed to get more work done

116

39.2

Our procedures and systems are good at preventing errors from happening

102

34.3

It is just by chance that more serious mistakes do not happen around here

110

37.4

We have patient safety problems in this facility

72

24.2

D2: Frequency of adverse events reporting

 

25.6

When a mistake is made, but is caught and corrected before affecting the patient, it is reported

78

26.4

When a mistake is made, but has no potential to harm the patient, it is reported

70

23.6

When a mistake is made that could harm the patient, but does not, it is reported

80

26.9

D3: Supervisor/manager expectations and actions promoting patient safety

 

36.6

Manager says a good word when he/she sees a job done according to established patient safety procedures

117

39.7

Manager seriously considers staff suggestions for improving patient safety

100

33.7

Whenever pressure builds up, my manager wants us to work faster, even if it means taking shortcuts

85

28.6

My manager overlooks patient safety problems that happen over and over

129

43.4

D4: Organizational learning and continuous improvement

 

34

We are actively doing things to improve patient safety

127

42.8

Mistakes have led to positive changes here

100

33.7

After we make changes to improve patient safety, we evaluate their effectiveness

115

38.7

We are given feedback about changes put into place based on event reports

83

28.1

We are informed about errors that happen in the facility

93

31.4

In this facility, we discuss ways to prevent errors from happening again

87

29.3

D5: Teamwork within units

 

45

People support one another in this facility

104

35.3

When a lot of work needs to be done quickly, we work together as a team to get the work done

149

50.2

In facility, people treat each other with respect

141

47.5

When one area in this unit gets really busy, others help out

139

46.8

D6: Communication openness

 

26.3

Staff will freely speak up if they see something that may negatively affect patient care

92

31

Staff feel free to question the decisions or actions of those with more authority

52

17.5

Staff are afraid to ask questions when something does not seem right

90

30.3

D7: Nonpunitive response to error

 

22.9

Staff feel like their mistakes are held against them

65

22

When an event is reported, it feels like the person is being written up, not the problem

56

18.9

Staff worry that mistakes they make are kept in their personnel file

83

27.9

D8: Staffing

 

27.2

We have enough staff to handle the workload

55

18.5

Staff in this facility work longer hours than is best for patient care

77

25.9

We work in crisis mode trying to do too much, too quickly

110

37.2

D9: Management support for patient safety

 

31.2

Management provides a work climate that promotes patient safety

92

31.1

The actions of management show that patient safety is a top priority

80

27.1

Management seems interested in patient safety only after an adverse event happens

118

39.7

Units work well together to provide the best care for patients

80

27

D10: Teamwork across units

 

28.2

There is good cooperation among units that need to work together

80

26.9

Units do not coordinate well with each other

93

31.3

It is often unpleasant to work with staff from other units

92

31

Things ‘fall between the cracks’ when transferring patients from one unit to another

94

31.6

Important patient care information is often lost during shift changes

79

26.6

Problems often occur in the exchange of information across units

64

21.5