PERCEPTION OF THE PATIENT SAFETY CULTURE AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AT THE NIÑOS DE ACOSTA ÑU PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL

Abstract

 INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines patient safety as the absence of preventable harm during healthcare delivery and the reduction, to an acceptable minimum, of the risk of unnecessary harm associated with healthcare. In Paraguay, patient safety protocols and good practice guidelines have been established by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare to standardize healthcare processes, reduce errors, and improve the quality and safety of patient care. OBJECTIVE: To describe healthcare professionals' perception of the patient safety culture at the Niños de Acosta Ñu General Pediatric Hospital. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted based on responses to an anonymous survey administered to healthcare professionals at the Niños de Acosta Ñu General Pediatric Hospital. The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC), developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and adapted into Spanish, was used. Variables included hospital-related aspects, communication, supervisor or manager, profession, and perceived patient safety. Data were collected using Google Forms, exported to Microsoft Excel, and analyzed with SPSS version 21 using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Among the 12 dimensions assessed by the HSOPSC, no strengths were identified in the hospital's patient safety culture. The dimensions requiring improvement included frequency of events reported (50%), organizational learning/continuous improvement (59%), teamwork within units (61%), feedback and communication about errors (53%), and hospital management support for patient safety (50%). CONCLUSION: No dimensions were identified as strengths in the patient safety culture. These findings highlight the need to implement strategies aimed at strengthening the patient safety culture among healthcare professionals at the Niños de Acosta Ñu General Pediatric Hospital.