Nurses’ attitudes towards safety and their association with nurses’ perceptions of adverse events and quality of care: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aims:

To explore nurses’ attitudes towards safety and their association with nurses’ perceptions of adverse events and quality of care in Saudi Arabian hospitals.

Design:

A cross-sectional study using a web-based survey.

Methods:

A web-based survey was administered to nurses working in five hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Nurses’ attitudes regarding safety, nurses’ perceptions of the frequency of seven adverse events, and nurses’ views on quality of care were collected. Descriptive and predictive analyses were performed.

Results:

Nurses’ attitudes regarding safety (n = 653) were classified as less than positive, with an overall score of 68.96%. The highest subscale mean score was for safety behaviour (73.1%), which was followed by job satisfaction (72.6%); the lowest subscale mean score was for working conditions (61.7%). Positive attitudes towards safety were associated with a lower frequency of pressure injuries, patient falls, healthcare-associated infections and unexpected deaths due to deterioration; positive attitudes towards safety were also associated with higher quality of care.

Conclusion:

Nurses’ attitudes towards safety contribute to preventing avoidable adverse events and to improving quality of care. This study builds on the growing body of evidence that demonstrates fostering a strong safety culture is essential for improving patient outcomes.