Baseline assessment and benchmarking of patient safety culture in Jordan: a cross-sectional study

PurposeTo assess patient safety culture in a teaching hospital in Jordan, identify the demographic and professional characteristics that impact safety culture, and benchmark patient safety culture with similar studies in the region.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional design was applied. Responses were analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.FindingsIn total, 430 (80.5%) participants were nurses and physicians; 300 (56.20%) were females; 270 (50.6%) were in the age group 25–34 years of age. Participants provided the highest positive ratings for “teamwork within units” (60.7%). On the contrary, participants recorded a low positive reaction to the proposition that the response to error was punitive in nature. Of the participants, about 53% did not report any events in the past year.Originality/valueThe average positive response of PSC composites varied from 28.2 to 60.7%. Therefore, patient safety culture in this Jordanian hospital was revealed fragile. This research informs and enables managers and policymakers to plan for future interventions to improve patient safety culture in healthcare institutions.