Cross-Sectional Study on Patient Safety Culture, Patient Safety Competency, and Adverse Events

This study aims to examine the associations between nurses’ perceptions of patient safety culture, patient safety competency, and adverse events. Using convenience sampling, we conducted a cross-sectional study from February to May 2018 in two university hospitals. Furthermore, we performed multiple logistic regression to examine associations between patient safety culture, patient safety competency, and adverse events. Higher mean scores for “communication openness” in patient safety culture were significantly correlated with lower rates for pressure ulcers and falls; furthermore, higher mean scores for “working in teams with other health professionals” in patient safety competency were significantly correlated with reductions in ventilator-associated pneumonia. We recommend that a well-structured hospital culture emphasizing patient safety and continuation of in-service education programs for nurses to provide high-quality, clinically safe care is required. Moreover, further research is required to identify interventions to improve patient safety culture and competency and reduce the occurrence of adverse events.