Hospital dental staff attitudes to guide education and training in patient safety: a study with a focus on qualitative data

Objectives This study aimed to determine attitudes of current NHS dental hospital trainees at dental core trainee and speciality registrar level, plus consultant trainers, to guide shaping the direction of education and training in patient safety. The study was a locally based project in a single dental hospital setting at an acute NHS London Trust. Methods This study employed a survey and interviews, with emphasis on qualitative data utilised. Interviews were aimed at hospital clinical dental staff. The survey and focus groups were aimed at trainees. The one-on-one interview sessions were aimed at trainers. Results Findings demonstrated that both trainers and trainees see patient safety as a priority and there are gaps in education and training. Four overarching themes were seen as important to trainees and trainers to support education and training in patient safety: culture, knowledge, time to train and engagement. Conclusions Recommendations in this dental hospital setting focused on culture change and dental-specific experiential learning based on spiral curricula. Education and training in patient safety should be introduced at undergraduate level, with regular team training acknowledging the need for consistent engagement of all key stakeholders. Key points In this dental hospital, patient safety is deemed a priority and important by dental core trainees and specialist registrars in clinical training, and by consultant trainers. Culture, knowledge, time to train and engagement are four key themes to emerge as essentials to support education and training in patient safety. The National patient safety syllabus 2.0 will satisfy an unmet need. Nevertheless, education and training in patient safety requires a change in culture, should be dental-specific and requires regular team training, patient involvement, spiral curricula and iterative training.