Perceived Patient Safety Culture in a Critical Care Transport Program

Background The purpose of this study was to examine the association among selected safety culture dimensions and safety outcomes in the context of a critical care transport (CCT) program. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional correlational design used the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture to validate perceived safety culture among personnel (n = 76) in a large Midwestern CCT program. Results Findings revealed significant associations between 1) teamwork and frequency of error reporting (r =.428, P <.001), overall perception of safety (r =.745, P <.001), and perceived patient safety grade (r = -.681, P <.001); 2) between perception of manager actions promoting safety and frequency of error reporting (r =.521, P <.001), overall perception of safety (r =.779, P <.001), and perceived patient safety grade (r = -.756, P <.001); and 3) between communication openness and frequency of error reporting (r =.575, P <.001), overall perception of safety (r =.588, P <.001), and perceived patient safety grade (r = -.627, P <.001). Conclusion The study supports other literature showing significant associations among safety culture dimensions and safety outcomes and provides a framework for future research on safety culture in CCT programs.