Cultural determinants and strategic priorities for medication safety in acute care: a multidisciplinary Delphi study.

BACKGROUND

Organizational culture, defined as the shared values, assumptions, and norms that influence behavior within organizations, is widely recognized as a key determinant of patient safety in healthcare systems. Within acute care settings, medication safety represents a critical component of patient safety and depends on the ability of healthcare professionals to recognize risks, communicate openly, and intervene before errors result in patient harm. However, medication use is inherently interdisciplinary and requires effective coordination between multiple professional groups. Understanding how organizational culture influences medication safety practices across healthcare professions is therefore essential to inform governance, policy, and improvement strategies. This study aimed to achieve expert consensus on the organizational cultural factors influencing medication safety practices, barriers to medication error reporting, and strategies to strengthen medication safety in acute healthcare settings.

METHODS

A modified electronic Delphi method was used to synthesize expert perspectives. A multidisciplinary panel of 41 healthcare professionals practicing in Malta's acute care system was invited to participate, including nurses, midwives, medical doctors, and pharmacists. In Round 1, participants completed an exploratory qualitative questionnaire consisting of three open-ended questions addressing cultural influences on medication safety, barriers to error reporting, and potential improvement strategies. Responses were analyzed using inductive content analysis, generating thematic categories that informed the development of 20 structured statements grouped into four domains: organizational safety culture and psychological safety; workforce and operational pressures; reporting culture and barriers; and strategies to strengthen medication safety. In Round 2, participants rated the importance of each statement using a five-point Likert scale. Consensus was predefined as ≥70% agreement.

RESULTS

A total of 28 out of 41 healthcare professionals participated in Round 1 (68.3% response rate), including nurses (n = 15), midwives (n = 5), medical doctors (n = 5), and pharmacists (n = 3). Round 1 identified seven categories grouped into four domains, with blame culture emerging as a key barrier to medication error reporting. In Round 2 (n = 25/41; 61.0% response rate), consensus (≥70%) was reached for all but one statement. The strongest consensus centered on psychological safety, open communication, and adequate staffing.

CONCLUSION

Findings indicate that medication safety is shaped primarily by organizational culture and systemic conditions rather than technical safeguards alone. Establishing a psychologically safe, non-punitive environment supported by engaged leadership and appropriate workforce conditions is fundamental for encouraging transparent reporting, organizational learning, and safer medication practices. These insights can inform policy development, organizational governance, and future research aimed at strengthening medication safety cultures in healthcare systems.