The characteristics of patient safety culture in Japan, Taiwan and the United States

Abstract

BackgroundQuality and safety issues are receiving growing attention. Patient safety culture (PSC) plays an important role in patient safety. The characteristics of PSC in various countries, each with a different set of values, have not been determined sufficiently. The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics of PSC in Japan, Taiwan and the U.S.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in Japan and Taiwan using the Hospital Survey on PSC (HSOPS) questionnaire developed by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Data from Japan and Taiwan were also compared with the U.S. “2010 HSOPS Comparative Database” provided by AHRQ.ResultsValid response rates in Japan, Taiwan and the U.S. were 66.5% (6,963/10,466), 85.7% (10,019/11,692) and 35.2% (291,341/827,424), respectively. The proportion of respondents with some experience of event reporting during the past 12 months was highest in Japan. In general, U.S. healthcare workers were likely to evaluate their PSC higher than that in Japan or Taiwan. The attitude of continuous improvement in Japan and event reporting of near misses in Taiwan were rated as low. In the U.S., staffing was rated as high.ConclusionsThe results suggest that PSC varies among different countries, and the cultural setting of each country should be given special consideration in the development of effective intervention plans to improve PSC. Additional investigations with improved methodology and a common protocol are required to accurately compare PSCs among countries.

Patient safety culture in China: a case study in an outpatient setting in Beijing

“…It has been validated in a number of countries24–26 including a translated Chinese version in Taiwan and mainland China 9 29 32. In this study, the Cronbach α coefficients of the HSOPC subscales ranged from 0.37 to 0.81, slightly higher than those reported elsewhere in Chinese hospitals 9 12. The survey was completely anonymous and was voluntary.…”

“…Such an aspect of organisational culture is usually termed ‘patient safety culture’, where members of the organisation share values, beliefs and norms related to patient safety 11. It shapes the commitment to and the style of proficiency of safety practice 12 13…”

“…In a recent review Sammer et al 27 categorised hospital culture of patient safety into seven key aspects: leadership, teamwork, evidence-based, communication, learning, just and patient-centred. Studies have revealed differences in patient safety culture across professions, units, hospitals and countries 9 12 28–32. The implications of such differences and the underlying reasons are less clear, although there is some speculation that these differences might be related to the structural and procedural characteristics of individual services and influenced by the national culture 12 33…”

Cultura de segurança do paciente em três hospitais brasileiros com diferentes tipos de gestão

“…Fujita et al 31 revelaram que nos Estados Unidos a taxa de resposta é em torno de 35,2%, no Japão, de 66,5% e em Taiwan, de 85,7%. Klopper-Kes et al 32 obtiveram taxa de resposta de 27% na Alemanha, já na China 26 foi de 77%.…”

Cultura e clima organizacional para segurança do paciente em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva

“…A study comparing HSOPSC scores in different countries, namely Japan, Taiwan, and the United States, found low percentages of positive answers for Communication Openness in Taiwan (23) . According to the authors, of the three countries, Chinese culture is more strongly characterized by authoritarian leadership, which means that collaborators are potentially afraid to express their concerns and problems with regards to patient safety.…”