Patient Safety Culture Among Healthcare Professionals in Jeddah First Health Cluster: A Multi-Professional Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE

Patient safety culture (PSC) is essential to improve healthcare quality and reduce preventable harm. Despite ongoing healthcare transformation in Saudi Arabia, there is limited evidence on healthcare professionals' (HCPs) perceptions of PSC in newly established health clusters.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study among HCPs in 6 government hospitals within the Jeddah First Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia. Data were gathered utilizing the Hospital Survey on PSC (HSOPSC). Descriptive measurement sand multiple linear regression analyses were used to evaluate perceptions of PSC and associated factors.

RESULTS

A total of 256 HCPs participated in the study. Overall, PSC was perceived as moderately positive (mean = 3.40, SD = 0.41). Teamwork within units of reported events received the highest scores, indicating positive collaboration among staff. Staffing, less punitive response to error, and handoffs and transitions scores were low, highlighting concerns related to workforce adequacy, communication during care transitions, and fear of blame when reporting incidents. Regression analysis showed that demographic and professional characteristics were not significant predictors of overall PSC scores.

CONCLUSION

The HCPs generally reported positive experiences of PSC; however, challenges related to staffing, communication, and non-punitive error reporting remain. Strengthening organizational communication and promoting a just culture may improve patient safety practices across healthcare facilities.