Speaking Up: Exploring Mental Health Care Workers' Patient Safety Concerns

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the perspectives and experiences of mental health care workers (MHCWs) when speaking up about patient safety concerns. Method: A qualitative study was performed at Farshchian (Sina) Hospital in Iran, involving the purposive sampling of MHCWs from three inpatient psychiatric wards. From July to October 2022, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 participants. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results: Three major patient safety themes were identified: (a) Voicing Concerns for Daily Safety (subthemes: daily safety check-ins and speaking up to prevent patient harm); (b) Speaking Up to Save Future Lives (subthemes: whistleblowing, leadership, and being open to communication); and (c) Hesitating to Speak Up (sub-themes: ineffectiveness of raising one's voice and whispering). Conclusion: MHCWs have various concerns about speaking up or staying silent. Failure to communicate can result in adverse events and missed opportunities to address patient safety. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx (x), xx–xx.]