A Comparative Study of Patient Safety Culture Between 2013 and 2019 at a University Hospital in a Rural Area in Japan

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine the difference of the extent of patient safety culture at a university hospital in a rural area of Japan.

METHODS: Questionnaire surveys in both 2013 and 2019 were conducted for hospital staff with using Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture developed by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. It consists of 12 patient safety dimensions and the results were examined from the point of categories consisted of communication, organizational activity and organizational continuous improvement.

RESULTS: Valid number of respondents were 641 in 2013 and 640 in 2019 persons, respectively. The overall average positive response rate (PRR) for the 12 dimensions was 53.6% in 2013 and 55.0% in 2019. In terms of categories, the average PRR for Communication was 54.7% in 2013 and 56.2% in 2019. Although the average PRR for Organizational activity for patient safety were 49.2% in 2013 and 50.5% in 2019. PRRs of four professions except office worker chronologically increased, whereas PRR for office worker decreased (52.3% in 2013 and 43.5% in 2019). This was due to the decrease of all five factors related with communication (D1, D2, D12, D11, D4).

CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the result of 2013 survey, the result of 2019 indicated that the PRR of almost Dimensions increased or remained roughly unchanged. This suggested that patient safety activity so far made hospital staff’s recognition raised. Nevertheless, the PRR related with the organization remained low and the hospital staff might not respect the hospital activity for patient safety. Furthermore, the PRR of D9 indicated that working environment of hospital remained substantially inferior under the social insurance medical fee schedule in Japan. Additionally, office workers who have few opportunities to come in contact with patients may need to be trained in different way from other professions.