ERRORS AND ADVERSE EVENTS: THE INTERFACE WITH HEALTH PROFESSIONALS’ SAFETY CULTURE

Abstract

This descriptive study, with a quantitative approach, aimed to analyze the safety culture in relation to errors and adverse events in the perception of health professionals. It was undertaken between April and June 2014 in three units of a teaching hospital in the South of Brazil. A total of 71 health professionals participated, responding to the “Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture” questionnaire. Analysis took place through descriptive statistics of the dimensions which are to do with the safety culture in relation to the occurrence of errors and adverse events in this instrument. The majority of the participants demonstrated a perception of safety culture which was not favorable to communication regarding care failures and indicated a punitive culture still to be present in the institution, which may explain the underreporting of shortcomings. It is concluded that it is necessary to disseminate the nonpunitive culture in the organization, such that errors and adverse events may be reported, analyzed and corrected.

Keywords

• Patient safety
• Organizational culture
• Medical errors
• Nursing