Safety culture in Slovakian long-term care facilities: a cross-sectional study

Design: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study.

Methods: The research sample included 161 healthcare professionals from 12 long-term care facilities in Slovakia. Empirical data were collected from December 2023 to February 2024 using the Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture (NHSPSC).

Results: Respondents rated the safety culture highest in the dimensions of Feedback and Communication About Incidents (72%) and Overall Perceptions of Resident Safety (69%) according to the NHSPSC. In contrast, the lowest ratings were for Staffing (36%), Nonpunitive Response to Mistakes (38%), and Compliance with Procedures (40%). Analysis revealed statistically significant associations between degree of patient safety, all dimensions of safety culture, and overall job satisfaction (p < 0.05). Patient safety ratings were influenced by the number of patients per shift and healthcare professionals’ intentions to leave their jobs.

Conclusion: Patient safety culture significantly influences the level of safety experienced by patients residing in long-term care facilities in Slovakia. Assessment of this culture helps identify areas for improvement and raises awareness of safety among healthcare professionals.