Status of patient safety in selected Ghanaian hospitals: a national cross-sectional study

BMJ Open Quality

article

Mary Eyram Ashinyo¹  Kingsley E Amegah³  Pierre Claver Kariyo⁴  Angela Ackon⁵  Sofonias Asrat⁵  Stephen Dajaan Dubik⁶ 

[1] Department of Quality Assurance , Ghana Health Service;Department of Maternal and Child Health , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health;Department of Data Science and Economic Policy , University of Cape Coast, School of Economics;World Health Organization West Africa;World Health Organization Country Office;School of Allied Health Sciences , University for Development Studies

关键词: patient safety;    medication safety;    healthcare quality improvement;    risk management;    incident reporting;   

DOI  :  10.1136/bmjoq-2022-001938

学科分类：药学

来源: BMJ Publishing Group

【 摘 要 】

Background Safety is one of the dimensions of healthcare quality and is core to achieving universal health coverage and healthcare delivery worldwide. In Ghana, the status of patient safety in the last 7 years has remained unknown. Therefore, this study aims to assess the patient safety status in selected hospitals in Ghana.Methods Using the WHO Patient Safety Long Form, a mixed methodology was used to assess the patient safety status in 27 hospitals in Ghana. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and axial codes for thematic analysis.Results The average national patient safety score was high (85%). However, there were variations in the performance of the hospitals across the WHO patient safety action areas. Knowledge and learning in patient safety (97%) was the highest-rated patient safety action area. Patient safety surveillance, patient safety funding, patient safety partnerships and national patient safety policy had mean scores lower than the national average score (85%). Less than half (42%) of the hospitals had a dedicated budget for patient safety activities. The means of continuous education for health professionals include clinical sessions, and in-service training, while the system of clinical audits in the hospitals were maternal mortality, perinatal mortality, stillbirth and general mortality audits. The hospitals use posters, leaflets, public address systems and health education sessions to inform patients about their rights. Patient safety issues are reported through suggestion boxes, designated desks and the use of contacts of core management staff.Conclusion The current patient safety status in the hospitals was generally good, with the highest score in the knowledge and learning in the patient safety domain. Patient safety surveillance was identified as the weakest action area. The findings of this study will form the scientific basis for initiating the development of a national patient safety policy in Ghana. This is crucial for ensuring resilient and sustainable health systems that guarantee safer care to all patients in Ghana.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC|CC BY|CC BY-NC-ND