Objective
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an obstetrics patient safety
program on staff safety culture.
Study Design
We implemented (1) obstetrics patient safety nurse, (2) protocol-based standardization
of practice, (3) crew resource management training, (4) oversight by a patient safety
committee, (5) 24-hour obstetrics hospitalist, and (6) an anonymous event reporting
system. We administered the Safety Attitude Questionnaire on 4 occasions over 5 years
(2004-2009) to all staff members that assessed teamwork and safety cultures, job satisfaction,
working conditions, stress recognition, and perceptions of management.
Results
We observed significant improvements in the proportion of staff members with favorable
perceptions of teamwork culture (39% in 2004 to 63% in 2009), safety culture (33%
to 63%), job satisfaction (39% to 53%), and management (10% to 37%). Individual roles
(obstetrics providers, residents, and nurses) also experienced improvements in safety
and teamwork, with significantly better congruence between doctors and nurses.
Conclusion
Safety programs can improve workforce perceptions of safety and an improved safety
climate.
Key words
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
November 2,
2010
Received in revised form:
September 11,
2010
Received:
July 30,
2010
Footnotes
Supported in part by MCIC Vermont, Inc (New York, NY) as a quality assurance activity.
Reprints not available from the authors.
Cite this article as: Pettker CM, Thung SF, Raab CA, et al. A comprehensive obstetrics patient safety program improves safety climate and culture. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2011;204:216.e1-6.
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
