Skip to main content

Table 4 Key dimensions of patient safety culture and the related domains in PC-SafeQuest and MapSaf

From: A comparative assessment of two tools designed to support patient safety culture in UK general practice

Dimensions of safety culture

PC-SafeQuest

MapSaf

Related domain

Specific questions (closed)

Related domain

Specific questions (open)

1. Leadership, particularly the support of safe practice

Leadership

Is the hierarchy in the practice a barrier to effective working?

Will highlighting a significant event likely result in negative repercussions for the person raising it?

Does the practice leadership deal effectively with problem team members?

How seriously do senior staff take suggestions that might improve how things are done?

Is there a low level of trust between staff members?

How frequently do staff disregard rules, protocols and procedures?

Not covered

2. Systems, procedures and processes exist that normalise or enshrine patient safety, or which are adhered to

Safety Systems

Are all staff encouraged to highlight significant events?

Do practice procedures help to prevent significant events from happening?

Does the development of practice protocols use inputs from all staff?

Does the practice take the time to formally assess risks (e.g., to patients, colleagues, and to the practice)?

Do all staff have the opportunity to participate in the analysis of significant events?

Do you think the quality and safety of patient care in your practice is taken seriously?

Not covered

3. Resources for safety (such as staffing, equipment, training)

Not covered

Staff education and training about safety issues

How, why and when are education and training programmes about patient safety developed? What do staff think of them?

4. The quality of interpersonal relationships (such as teamwork, collaboration within and across units)

Team working

Do all staff treat each other with respect?

Do all staff always support one another?

Are disagreements amongst staff resolved appropriately?

Do staff at all levels within the practice work well together?

Is your practice a good place to work?

Are staff generally satisfied with their jobs?

Is the need to work well as a team promoted by the practice leadership?

Team working around safety issues

How and why are teams developed? How are teams managed? How much team working is there around patient safety issues?

5. Communication, particularly about safety, including perceptions of being able to report and speak up

Communication

Do all staff at your practice feel free to question the decisions of those with more authority?

Are all staff comfortable in expressing concerns to the practice leadership about how things are done in the practice?

Is there open communication between colleagues across all levels?

Are all staff kept up to date about practice developments?

How effectively does the practice leadership communicate its vision for the development of the practice?

Communication about safety issues

What communication systems are in place? What are their features? What is the quality of record keeping to communicate about safety like?

6. A focus on learning from mistakes, responding and improving systems

Not covered

Perceptions of the causes of PSIs and their identification

What sort of reporting systems are there? How are reports of incidents received? How are incidents viewed, as an opportunity to blame or improve?

Investigating PSI incidents

Who investigates incidents and how are they investigated? What is the aim of the organisation? Does the organisation learn from the event?

7. Individual staff characteristics and perceptions of their effect on work (such as job satisfaction, stress)

Workload

Is the performance of staff impaired by excessive workload?

Do all staff have enough time to complete tasks safely?

Is the level of staffing in the practice sufficient to manage the workload safely?

When pressure builds are staff expected to work faster even if it means taking shortcuts?

Not covered

8. General awareness of patient safety and/or it being a priority

Not covered

Priority given to patient safety

How seriously is the issue of patient safety taken within the organisation? Where does responsibility lie for patient safety issues?

9. Other means of prioritising safety (such as through rewards and incentives)

Not covered

10. Actual safety issues witnessed reported

Not covered

Investigating patient safety issues

Who investigates incidents and how are they investigated? What is the aim of the organisation? Does the organisation learn from the event?