Safety Culture Through Patient Voice: Qualitative Validation of the Patients' Perceptions of Safety Culture Scale (PaPSC) in Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery

• DOI: 10.1111/hex.70213
• Publication Date: 2025-03-11T15:37:45Z
• Authors: Clara Monaca; Matthias Weigl; Holger Pfaff; Antje Hammer
• Keywords: Safety Culture; CLARITY; Thematic Analysis; Critical Incident Technique

The 11-item Patients' Perception of Safety Culture Scale (PaPSC) measures patients' perceptions the safety culture within healthcare organizations. While patients can respond to these items, factors such as limited knowledge, unclear roles and insufficient information may influence their assessments. Despite previous research on PaPSC, no qualitative validation has been conducted. This study addresses this gap by exploring perspectives culture. A qualitative, exploratory approach was adopted, employing problem-centred interviews with from cardiology cardiothoracic surgery wards a tertiary care university hospital. Thematic coding combining deductive inductive methods used identify predefined emergent themes. Data saturation reached after 22 interviews, providing comprehensive account experiences. Most were able PaPSC confirming its robustness in assessing However, they emphasized interpersonal aspects empathy, trust clear communication, contextual elements environment patient-staff interactions, which are less well represented standardized instruments. Several items perceived ambiguous, highlighting need for explanatory text enhance clarity response accuracy. underscores value integrating tools reveal nuanced Active patient involvement tool development improve comprehensiveness effectiveness interventions. Ensuring that assessments accurately reflect experiences needs contributes more patient-centred practices. Problem-centred Think-Aloud method ensure active participation. Patients identifying areas where survey needed further clarification or contextualization, thereby enhancing validity usability (PaPSC). Their feedback also led refinements design tools, underscoring importance approaches research. Although not directly involved design, since scale derived prior critical review existing instruments, role crucial. aimed develop new but assess applicability an established instrument. empowered share views openly supportive respectful environment, offering valuable insights improving assessment.