Organizational patient safety Practice and its Associated Factors in Gambella region health centers, South West Ethiopia, 2014

Abstract

Introduction Patient safety is the absence of avoidable harm to patients during the process of health care. Every year, tens of millions of patients worldwide suffer disabling injuries or death due to unsafe medical care. Study findings imply the system factors are the most important factors in patient safety problems and causes of medical errors in health facility. Objective The aim of this study is to assess organization patient safety practice and its associated factors in Gambella region health centers. Methodology Cross sectional study design with both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used. Structured, pre-tested, self administered questionnaire and observational checklist and in-depth guide were used. 227 health professionals in 12 health centers which are selected by simple random by lottery method using a self-administered Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture adapted questionnaire. Purposive 8 in-depth interviews and observational study conducted using in-depth guide and structured observational checklist. Result: Organizational patient safety practice status was 49.3% as rated by the health professionals. The statistically significant predictors for organizational patient safety practice were communication openness, non-punitive response to error, frequency of event reporting, health center management support for patient safety, Supervisor/manager expectations & actions promoting safety and Teamwork Across health center Conclusion and recommendation: Organizational patient safety practice status was poor in the health centers. We suggest that the predictors found to affect the Organizational patient safety practice in this study be used as basic materials for future research and be incorporated into promotion programs on patient safety practice. Patient safety should be a top priority for the health care organizations and its leaders. There should be blame-free system for identifying threats to patient safety and learning from eve