title: Patients' Perspectives of Surgical Safety: Do They Feel Safe?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased focus on reducing patient harm has led to surgical safety initiatives, including time-out, surgical safety checklists, and debriefings. The perception of the lay public of the surgical safety process is largely unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 20-question survey focused on perceptions of surgical safety practice was distributed to a random sample of patients following elective operations requiring hospitalization. Responses were measured by a 7-point Likert scale. Qualitative feedback was obtained through nonphysician-moderated sessions. Participation was voluntary and anonymous.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surveys were distributed to 345 patients of whom 102 (29.5%) responded. Overall, patients felt safe as evidenced by scores for the questions "I felt safe the day of my surgery" (6.53 ± 0.72) and "Mistakes rarely happen during surgery" (5.39 ± 1.51). Patients undergoing their first surgery and patients with higher income levels were associated with a significant decrease in specific safety perceptions. Qualitative feedback sessions identified the physician-patient relationship as the most important factor positively influencing patient safety perceptions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current surgical safety practice is perceived positively by our patients; however, patients still identify physician-patient interactions, relationships, and trust as the most positive factors influencing their perception of the safety environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX.
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tillman
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX.
authors.forename: Hania
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wehbe-Janek
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX.
authors.forename: Juhee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX.
authors.forename: Harry T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Papaconstantinou
keywords: Care–patient; management–patient; patient safety; surgery