ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Safety culture (SC) is a fundamental tool for minimizing adverse events and improving safety and quality of care. Our objective, therefore was to analyze the evolution of the SC of healthcare professionals in a pediatric emergency department (PED) after the implementation of a risk management system for patient safety based on the UNE:EN:ISO 179003 Standard and the execution of new safe practices for Joint Commission International accreditation. At the same time describe the current strengths and weaknesses. METHODS: Quasi-experimental, single-center study. All PED professionals participated in the study. An initial measurement of SC was performed through the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS) questionnaire of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality adapted to Spanish in 2014. Pro-patient safety strategies were implemented between 2015 and 2022. A subsequent measurement was performed in 2022. RESULTS: The response rate in 2014 was 55% and 78% in 2022. On both occasions the group with the highest participation was nurses with 35.1% and 34.8%, respectively. Five dimensions improved after the interventions: frequency of adverse events (25.2%, p<0.001), organizational learning (25%, p<0.001), feedback and communication about errors (22.3%, p<0.001), non-punitive response to errors (6.5%, p = 0.176), and management support (4%, p = 0.333). CONCLUSIONS: The actions carried out had a positive influence on organizational learning and the frequency of adverse events reported and communication within the team. In contrast, the perception of SC did not increase.
