Feature articleAssessment of Safety Attitudes in a Skilled Nursing Facility
Section snippets
Setting and Study Design
This one-time study using a convenience sample was undertaken at a 250-bed skilled nursing facility located on the campus of a suburban community hospital in western New York State. This not-for-profit facility is maintained by a religious organization. It does not serve as a teaching site for any health profession schools.
This study received institutional review board approval.
Sample
All nursing and allied health care staff with direct or indirect patient care responsibilities were eligible to
Results
The majority of respondents identified themselves as female (94%), non-Hispanic White (70%), and working full-time (80%) on the day shift (76%). Demographic characteristics of nonrespondents were not available for comparison. Although a greater number of nursing staff than other health care staff self-identified as non-Hispanic Black (28% vs. 14%) and working on the evening shift (28% vs. 7%), respectively, there were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups (Table 2).
Summary and Key Findings
The SAQ was successfully adapted for and administered in the long-term care setting. Despite a low response rate, it provided a preliminary overview of the safety culture in the institution in which it was piloted. No statistically significant differences were found between Nursing and Other Health Care Staff in ratings of the 6 safety constructs or the quality of collaboration and communication between staff members.
It is encouraging that overall a majority of respondents had a positive
Acknowledgements
Funding for this study was provided through a grant from the ASHP Foundation Pharmacy/Nursing Partnership for Medication Safety Grant Program. The authors thank Jim Smith for facilitating data collection, Letitia Cowens for data entry, and Andy Danzo for his critical review of the manuscript. We also thank Dr. Thomas Rosenthal and John Taylor for their continued support of our research endeavors.
ANGELA M. WISNIEWSKI, PharmD, is a Clinical Assistant Professor, University at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedic Sciences, Department of Family Medicine.
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ANGELA M. WISNIEWSKI, PharmD, is a Clinical Assistant Professor, University at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedic Sciences, Department of Family Medicine.
WILLLIAM S. ERDLEY, RN, DNS, is a Clinical Associate Professor, University at Buffalo, School of Nursing.
RANJIT SINGH, MD, MBA, is a Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Director, Patient Safety Research Center, University at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Family Medicine.
TIMOTHY J. SERVOSS, MA, is an Interim Assistant Professor, Canisius College, Department of Psychology.
BRUCE J. NAUGHTON, MD, is an Associate Professor, University at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Medicine; Kaleida Health, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology.
GURDEV SINGH, PhD, is Director, Patient Safety Research Center, University at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Family Medicine.