SURGICAL PATIENT SAFETY: EVALUATION OF THE CULTURE OF NURSING PROFESSIONALS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Abstract

Introduction: The evaluation of the safety culture is recommended because it helps the planning of interventions to improve safety. However, in some countries, such as Brazil, this practice is still not widespread. Objective: to evaluate the safety culture of nursing professionals in the surgical clinic and surgical block, involved in the care of surgical patients at a university hospital in the north of Minas Gerais. Materials and method: a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study. Professionals who had worked in the sectors for at least six months, provided direct care to the patient and agreed to participate in the research were considered. Data were collected using the validated instrument, Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC). The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, v 25.0, was used, in which descriptive and bivariate analyses (Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test) were conducted. Results: 34 nursing professionals participated in the research. Female professionals, aged up to 45 years, and nursing technicians, with higher education or postgraduate degrees, predominated. The average length of time in the profession was 18.06 years. A significant association was observed between the classification of the safety culture with the dimensions "feedback and communication about errors" (p=0.00) and "non-punitive responses to errors" (p=0.00) and with the frequency of notifications (p=0.02). Conclusions: The evaluation of the safety culture of nursing professionals involved in surgical patient care evidenced the absence of fortified areas of the safety culture and pointed out areas with potential for improvement.