DOI: 10.3390/ijerph23081064 ISSN: 1660-4601

Patient Safety Culture: Current Status and Associated Factors Among Healthcare Workers at Kien An Hospital—Hai Phong, Vietnam—A Cross-Sectional Study

Nguyen Ba Phuoc, Vu Tuan Anh, Nguyen Thi Ly, Nguyen Duc Son, Nguyen Thi Chin, Lam Thi Hanh, Trinh Thi My, Nguyen Thi Nhan, Le Van Mang, Luu Xuan Quy, Ha Thi Minh Nguyet, Nguyen Duc Thanh

Objective: Patient safety culture (PSC) is a critical determinant of healthcare quality. This study aimed to assess the current status of PSC among healthcare workers at Kien An Hospital, Hai Phong, Vietnam, and identify associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the 12-dimension hospital survey on patient safety culture (HSOPSC). A total of 324 healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, and allied staff) participated. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression. Results: The positive response rate (PRR) across the 12 dimensions of patient safety culture (PSC) varied widely. The highest positive perceptions were observed in “Teamwork within units” (98.5%) and “Teamwork across units” (98.1%). Conversely, severe vulnerabilities in psychological safety were identified, with “Communication Openness” recording the absolute lowest PRR at 25.9%, closely followed by “Non-punitive response to error” at 29.0%. Comparative analysis between professional strata revealed broad alignment across 11 dimensions, with the sole significant divergence occurring in “Feedback and communication about error”, where physicians reported a significantly higher PRR than nurses & allied staff (85.8% vs. 75.2%; p = 0.04). In the multivariable logistic regression model, age emerged as the single independent predictor of overall positive PSC; compared to early-career staff (<30 years), healthcare workers aged 30–40 years (AOR = 4.17, p = 0.02) and 40–50 years (AOR = 5.03, p = 0.02) had significantly higher odds of favorable safety perceptions. Conclusions: Healthcare workers at the study hospital exhibit exceptionally strong collaborative teamwork, yet low communication openness and the fear of a punitive environment remain critical systemic barriers to safety. Because safety culture challenges are macro-institutional and disproportionately impact junior personnel, interventions should shift away from role-specific policies. Instead, hospital leadership must prioritize establishing non-punitive reporting mechanisms, enhancing open dialogue, and designing targeted safety culture onboarding initiatives tailored specifically to the needs of early-career healthcare workers to foster continuous organizational learning.

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