Lay Care Worker's Perception of Patient Safety Culture

Abstract

This study confirms characteristics related with the general character of care workers in nursing homes. This work seeks to establish baseline data necessary to improve patient safety culture by investigating recognition about patient safety culture and related causes. From September 15th 2014 to October 11th 2014, study went through a survey targeting 101 nursing home care workers in K city. Data analysis was done by real numbers and percentages, average and standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA and Sheffe's test by using SPSS/WIN 21.0. The score for recognition about patient safety culture is 3.70 out of 5 on average, and the related factors are level of safety management, working hours per week, length of time for personal contact with a patient, and frequency of reported safety accidents. By utilizing measurement of patient safety culture as a starting point, an atmosphere for open communication between administrator and care workers is encouraged. In addition, establishment of policy, such as following appropriate arrangements of workers and construction of methodical care systems, is necessary to improve workplace of care workers and to decrease accidents..