Assessment of Attitude of Primary Care Medical Staff Toward Patient Safety Culture in Primary Health-care Centers--Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

introductionAn effective leadership is critical to the development of a safety culture within an organization. Patient safety in primary health care is an emerging field of research of increasing importance.

objectiveThis study has been conducted to explore the safety culture attitude toward patient safety to improve the quality and patient safety in primary health-care centers.

methodsA cross-sectional survey involving 288 medical staff in primary health-care centers in Al-Ahsa was conducted using an Arabic translated safety attitude questionnaire to assess the safety attitudes among health care center staff toward patient safety culture.

resultsThis study showed that the attitude of medical staff in primary health-care centers is somewhat positive toward patient safety culture where the average of job satisfaction score in the current study was higher at 80% and the overall score for safety climate was 68%. The overall score for safety attitudes was highest in Al-Ayoun Health Center (79%) and lowest in Al Faisaliah Health Center (58%). The score of teamwork and stress recognition was high and statistically significant (

conclusionThe findings suggested that certain improvements are needed, especially in the field of communication and stress recognition with regard to patient safety culture.