PERCEPTION OF PATIENT SAFETY AMONG THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AT THE KAKAMEGA COUNTY REFERRAL HOSPITAL, KENYA

Abstract

One of the global parameters in measuring healthcare quality is patient safety. Patient safety plays a pivotal role in maintaining and promoting patient safety.  The World Health Organization has opined that a weak patient safety culture among healthcare workers predisposes patients to adverse events which subsequently increase hospital stay, healthcare costs, patient morbidity, and mortality. Based on existing literature, the biggest challenge in understanding patient safety is how to assess it. Existing studies assess patient safety using different assessment approaches with most studies assessing patient safety using managerial, staff, or policy perspectives. There is, however, a paucity of studies reviewing the interaction of the three modes of safety assessments. Hence, it was imperative to establish the interaction of the three determinants influencing patient safety. Premised on this, this study sought to establish the determinants of patient safety among critical care clinical teams. Findings from this study posit to help inform patient safety in Kenya and act as a baseline to help trigger further research that could inform policy change. The study was conducted at the Kakamega County Referral Hospital in Kenya and did adopt an analytical cross-sectional design. The study included all healthcare providers working closely with the Critical Care Units (CCUs) since these units are the most critical in-patient safety. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the study participants. Collected data was coded electronically using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21 before being subjected to analysis. Using the eight (8) sections of the questionnaire, data was first analyzed and reported descriptively as numbers, percentages, means, and standard deviations.  Inferential statistics was then run on selected variables to help answer the research questions. After explaining the scope and rationale of the study, the respondents was required to first consent by signing a consent form before being included in the study.  Study findings was communicated digitally and physically in print format and made available to the public through the university library and online through the university website and an accredited peer-reviewed journal.