Patient Safety Culture; the Strengths and Weaknesses: A Case study of Imam Reza Hospital of Kermanshah

Background: Nowadays, strengthening Patient safety culture has received widespread attention by healthcare organizations. The first step in improving the safety of the patient is to assess the safety culture of the hospital. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of Patient safety culture from the nurses' point of view.   Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a convenient sample, including ۲۱۴ nurses, was selected among nurses in Imam Reza university hospital, Kermanshah, ۲۰۱۶. Data were collected by   a hospital survey on patient safety culture (HSOPSC) in ۱۲ dimensions via self-reporting method and were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests using SPSS ۱۹ software.   Results: The dimension of "organizational learning - continuous improvement" with ۷۵.۸۶% positive score was the strength of the Patient safety culture. While the dimensions of feedback to errors (۴۵.۶۴%), the frequency of reporting events (۴۱.۷۰%), staffing issues (۲۷.۳۳%), the openness of communication channels (۲۴.۶۳%), and the non-punitive response to errors (۱۵.۵۹%) were the weaknesses of the Patient safety culture. The overall Patient safety culture score was at an undesirable level (۴۸.۹۳%) and needed to improve. The Patient safety culture score was not significantly correlated with individual variables of nurses (P >۰.۰۵).   Conclusion: Based on the findings, the Patient safety culture, particularly in the dimensions of "communication openness", "non-punitive response to errors", and "staffing issues" was in an undesirable level and required managerial interventions to improve. Improving Patient safety culture can prepare the basis for providing safe and high-quality care.