Patient safety culture in nursing: a dimensional concept analysis.
OBJECTIVE
This paper is a report of a dimensional concept analysis of patient safety culture in nursing.


BACKGROUND
Patient safety is an important issue in healthcare organizations. As the release of Institute of Medicine reports in the United States of America, substantial interest has arisen in studying patient safety culture; however, the concept remains poorly defined.


METHODS
Multiple databases, including CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Anthropological Index Online, were searched from 1970 to 2006. A keyword search method was employed followed by a combined key word search.


METHODS
A concept analysis based on Caron and Bowers' method was carried out using 45 papers, three books and three theses after examination of the abstracts to identify definitions, dimensions, perspectives and consequences needed for content and dimensional analyses.


RESULTS
Nurses' shared values, beliefs and behavioural norms towards patient safety were identified as the overarching dimensions of the patient safety culture. The four sub-dimensions of patient safety culture were synthesized as system, personal, task-associated and interaction. Two main philosophical perspectives, functional and interpretative, were added to the analysis and further clarification was provided.


CONCLUSIONS
It is expected that understanding the nature, as well as the key elements of the concept, would assist with analysing the existing safety culture and help to determine the strategies to build or shape the safety culture.
Feng
Xianqiong
X
Marquette University College of Nursing, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Xianqiong.feng@marquette.edu
Bobay
Kathleen
K
Weiss
Marianne
M
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D010361:Patients; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*