Contribution to the assessment of patient safety culture in Algerian healthcare settings: The ASCO project

ABSTRACT

Background

A positive Patient Safety Culture (PSC) is considered as the main barrier to adverse events (AEs) that affect healthcare quality and safety. Thus, the assessment of PSC became a priority for healthcare providers in order to identify problematic areas that need improvement actions.

Method

A cross sectional multi-center study was conducted to evaluate quantitatively PSC in 10 Algerian healthcare establishments (HEs) within the framework of the Algerian Observatory of Safety Culture (ASCO Project). The French version of the HSOPSC was used as a measurement tool where it was administered to participants (N = 1370) using convenience sampling.

Results

A total of 1118 respondents, all professional categories included, participated in this study. The response rate was estimated at 69% of the sample size (N = 1370). After statistical processing, 950 questionnaires were retained. Internal consistency was above 0.7 for all dimensions. Problematic PSC dimensions were identified, mainly ‘Non-punitive response to error’, ‘Staffing’ and ‘Communication openness’.

Conclusions

This article sheds light on the critical situation of PSC in the Algerian national health system. Quantitative findings were introduced in the framework of the Algerian Safety Culture Observatory project that will serve as a baseline for different stakeholders to guide long-term promotion actions.

KEYWORDS:

• Patient safety culture
• maturity level
• HSOPSC questionnaire
• ASCO project
• care quality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical clearance: Ethical obligations, compatible with the Helsinki declaration of research ethics, were approved by the scientific committee of the National Institute of Health & Safety, University of Batna 2 prior to the study.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Youcef Oussama Fourar

Mr. Youcef Oussama Fourar, PhD Student in Occupational Health & Safety, Institute of Health & Safety, University of Batna 2. He holds a MSc in Integrated Management of Quality, Safety and Environment, Institute of Health & Safety. His main Research topics are Risk Prevention, Safety Culture and Continuous improvement.

Wissal Benhassine

Pr. Wissal Benhassine, MD & Professor of Occupational Medecine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Batna 2. Head of Occupational Medecine Unit, Batna’s University Hospital. Lecturer in Occupational Health & Safety and Ergonomics. Her research covers Occupational Diseases, Workplace Accidents and Patient Safety.

Assia Boughaba

Dr. Assia Boughaba, is a lecturer at the Institute of Health & Safety, University of Batna 2, Algeria. She holds a MSc and a PhD in Risk Management. Her research focuses on Safety Management, Patient Safety Culture, Workplace Ventilation and Statistical Analysis.

Mebarek Djebabra

Pr. Mebarek Djebabra, is a Full time Professor at the Institute of Health & Safety, University of Batna 2. He holds a PhD from the University of Bordeaux 1, France, in Technical System’s Reliability. He provides lectures in Occupational Safety and Systems Reliability, and undertakes research in Safety Management.