AHRQ-Funded Studies Confront Gaps in Patient Safety Culture and Practice

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41358643/ Higher proportions of healthcare executives view patient safety at their facilities positively, compared with clinicians and care aides, according to an AHRQ-supported study in the Journal of Patient Safety. Using data from AHRQ’s 2021–22 Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture—including more than 245,000 respondents from 371 hospitals—the study found that significantly higher proportions of executives positively rated all 10 measures than staff in other roles. Physicians had the lowest overall view of patient safety culture, including the lowest proportions of positive ratings of leader support (78%), communication openness (72%), reporting safety events (70%), and learning (66%). Care aides reported the lowest proportions of positive ratings of teamwork (78%), staffing and work pace (39%), and response to error (56%). The authors noted that employees furthest from day-to-day operations had the most favorable views and suggested strengthening cross-role communication and observation to improve the culture of patient safety.