Patient safety in Work Environments: Perceptions of Pediatric Healthcare Providers in Taiwan

Chih-Hsuan Huang; Hsin-Hung Wu; Yii-Ching Lee; Inneke Van Nieuwenhuyse; Meng-Chen Lin; Cheng-Feng Wu

doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2020.03.005

Patient safety in Work Environments: Perceptions of Pediatric Healthcare Providers in Taiwan

J Pediatr Nurs. 2020 Jul-Aug:53:6-13. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2020.03.005. Epub 2020 Apr 13.

Authors

Chih-Hsuan Huang¹, Hsin-Hung Wu², Yii-Ching Lee³, Inneke Van Nieuwenhuyse⁴, Meng-Chen Lin⁵, Cheng-Feng Wu⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Business Administration, Hubei University of Economics, Wuhan City, China; Institute of Wuhan Studies, Jianghan University, Wuhan City, China; Institute for Development of Cross-Strait Small and Medium Enterprise, Wuhan City, China.
² Department of Business Administration, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua City, Taiwan; Department of M-Commerce and Multimedia Applications, Asia University, Taichung City, Taiwan; Faculty of Education, State University of Malang, Malang, East Java, Indonesia.
³ Department of Health Business Administration, Hung Kuang University, Taichung City, Taiwan; School of Health Policy and Management, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan.
⁴ Research Group Logistics, Faculty of Business Economics, Hasselt University, Belgium.
⁵ School of Business Administration, Hubei University of Economics, Wuhan City, China.
⁶ School of Business Administration, Hubei University of Economics, Wuhan City, China; Institute for Development of Cross-Strait Small and Medium Enterprise, Wuhan City, China; Research Center of Hubei Logistics Development, Hubei University of Economics, Wuhan City, China. Electronic address: wuchengfeng@hbue.edu.cn.

PMID: 32299035
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2020.03.005

Abstract

Background: Extensive research on the link between the organizational characteristics of the work environment and patient safety in a healthcare organization has been conducted; yet, only a few studies have concentrated on care providers in a pediatric unit.

Objectives: To determine the correlation between different work environment factors impacting patient safety in a pediatric care unit from the perspective of registered nurses working in these units.

Design: Cross-sectional design.

Data sources and methods: The study was conducted with 155 registered nurses from a pediatric unit in a medical center in Taiwan with the Chinese version of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) 2014-2017.

Results: Teamwork climate, higher job satisfaction, and better working conditions are linked to positive perceptions of patient safety culture. Emotional exhaustion is negatively related to most dimensions of patient safety.

Conclusion: Teamwork climate, job satisfaction, working conditions, and emotional exhaustion were identified as critical factors impacting the patient safety climate.

Implications for nursing or health policy: Investments to improve teamwork climate, job satisfaction, and working conditions and reduce emotional exhaustion may have a positive effect on patient safety in pediatric care units.

Keywords: Job satisfaction; Pediatric nurses; Safety Attitudes Questionnaire; Teamwork climate.

MeSH terms

Attitude of Health Personnel
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Health Personnel
Humans
Job Satisfaction
Organizational Culture*
Patient Safety*
Perception
Safety Management
Surveys and Questionnaires
Taiwan