Exposure to Leadership WalkRounds in neonatal intensive care units is associated with a better patient safety culture and less caregiver burnout

Abstract

Background Leadership WalkRounds (WR) are widely used in healthcare organisations to improve patient safety. The relationship between WR and caregiver assessments of patient safety culture, and healthcare worker burnout is unknown. Methods This cross-sectional survey study evaluated the association between receiving feedback about actions taken as a result of WR and healthcare worker assessments of patient safety culture and burnout across 44 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) actively participating in a structured delivery room management quality improvement initiative. Results Of 3294 administered surveys, 2073 were returned for an overall response rate of 62.9%. More WR feedback was associated with better safety culture results and lower burnout rates in the NICUs. Participation in WR and receiving feedback about WR were less common in NICUs than in a benchmarking comparison of adult clinical areas. Conclusions WR are linked to patient safety and burnout. In NICUs, where they occurred more often, the workplace appears to be a better place to deliver and to receive care.

Ambiente de trabalho da enfermagem, segurança do paciente e qualidade do cuidado em hospital pediátrico

“…Some studies recommend the assessment of the safety climate as an indirect measure of the culture, which can be measured by attitudes that favor patient safety (8)(9) . Job satisfaction, the way in which the institution deals with errors, and perception of the types of management by health workers are considered essential indicators of the presence of attitudes that favor a safety climate in health institutions (9)(10) . The current recommendations emphasizes the need for studies that address the individual's behavior within the organization and the indicators of care and quality of care together (11) .…”

The case for quality improvement in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

“…Chassin and Loeb [3] suggest that committed leadership is essential for setting a common vision. Sexton et al [7] demonstrated that Safety WalkRounds™ improve teamwork and decrease burnout. Whitfield et al [8] have concluded that change is dependent on the prevailing culture of the NICU.…”

The evolving literature on safety WalkRounds: emerging themes and practical messages

“…i Drawing on a handful of publications about safety rounds programmes, reviews of interventions with potential to improve safety culture and patient safety3 30 31 describe safety rounds as one of the most evidence-based safety interventions used in practice. An emerging literature about safety rounds programmes, including papers recently published in this journal,32 33 presents an opportunity to review in more detail what has been learned so far about this promising programme and how interested managers can successfully implement safety rounds in their own organisations.…”