2012 User Comparative Database Report

Table 1-1. Patient Safety Culture Composites and Definitions

Patient Safety Culture Composite	Definition: The extent to which...
1. Communication openness	Staff freely speak up if they see something that may negatively affect a patient and feel free to question those with more authority
2. Feedback and communication about error	Staff are informed about errors that happen, given feedback about changes implemented, and discuss ways to prevent errors
3. Frequency of events reported	Mistakes of the following types are reported: (1) mistakes caught and corrected before affecting the patient, (2) mistakes with no potential to harm the patient, and (3) mistakes that could harm the patient but do not
4. Handoffs and transitions	Important patient care information is transferred across hospital units and during shift changes
5. Management support for patient safety	Hospital management provides a work climate that promotes patient safety and shows that patient safety is a top priority
6. Nonpunitive response to error	Staff feel that their mistakes and event reports are not held against them and that mistakes are not kept in their personnel file
7. Organizational learning—Continuous improvement	Mistakes have led to positive changes and changes are evaluated for effectiveness
8. Overall perceptions of patient safety	Procedures and systems are good at preventing errors and there is a lack of patient safety problems
9. Staffing	There are enough staff to handle the workload and work hours are appropriate to provide the best care for patients
10. Supervisor/manager expectations and actions promoting safety	Supervisors/managers consider staff suggestions for improving patient safety, praise staff for following patient safety procedures, and do not overlook patient safety problems
11. Teamwork across units	Hospital units cooperate and coordinate with one another to provide the best care for patients
12. Teamwork within units	Staff support each other, treat each other with respect, and work together as a team

Return to Document

Page last reviewed December 2012
Page originally created December 2012

Internet Citation: Table 1-1. Patient Safety Culture Composites and Definitions. Content last reviewed December 2012. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. https://archive.ahrq.gov/professionals/quality-patient-safety/patientsafetyculture/hospital/2012/hosp12tab1-1.html