Patient safety situational analysis in Ghana

Objectives The objective of the study was to assess the patient safety situation in Ghana. Specifically, the study aimed at assessing the WHO’s 12 action areas of patient safety. Design This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Data collection methods included interviews and observation using WHO adapted questionnaire. Setting The setting was mainly 16 selected hospitals, including two teaching hospitals selected from the northern and southern parts of the Ghana. Participants Respondents were purposively selected based on their position in the health facilities and the type of information required. Main Outcome Measure(s): The main outcome measures were the WHO’s 12 action areas of patient safety. Results The median bed capacity of the hospitals assessed was 93 (min = 60, max = 1812). The country’s highest score (94%) was in the action area of knowledge and learning in patient safety where all (16, 100%) sampled facilities had systems in place for recording adverse events, specific protocols for patient care, etc. Five (5) of the 12 action areas (i.e. national patient policy, hospital acquired infections, surgical safety, patient safety partnerships and patient safety funding) had scores lower than the mean score (66%). Conclusion The key strength identified in the patient safety situational analysis of Ghana was knowledge and learning in patient safety while patient safety surveillance was the weakest action area identified. There were also weaknesses in areas such as national patient policy, healthcare associated infections, surgical safety, patient safety partnerships and patient safety funding, respectively.