Exploring the perceptions of the patient safety culture

Purpose: The main aim of this study is to understand the perceptions of the patient safety culture in Saudi hospitals by the healthcare providers and the patients, and to explore the discrepancy between them. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative study design used through online survey, by using two questionnaires; one for the healthcare providers and the second for the patients in Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. The data collection spanned from 04-until 24 October, 2018. The Healthcare provider (HCP’s) sample were (n=195) providers, while the patient sample were (n=584) patients. The analysis of the data included descriptive analysis, t-test, Pearson chi-square test, and binary logistic regression. Results: The findings showed that the dimensions of teamwork within units, organizational learning, and the managers expectations and actions to promote the patient safety showed the highest positive perceptions among the HCP’s (77.75%), (73.77 %), and (72%) respectively. While, the patients with higher education have had less trust on healthcare services and were 30% less likely to recommend other patients with the same condition to visit hospitals compared to low level educated patients. The overall positive grade on patient safety culture as perceived by HCP’s was (74%), while the positive responses on the commitment level of the medical staff toward the patient safety procedures was (83 %), while the patient perceptions were only (34%), and (36%) respectively. Conclusion: There are variation between the HCP’s and Patients perceptions about the Patient safety culture in Saudi hospitals. These findings maybe important to other quality researchers to identify the reasons behind this discrepancy.