Keywords
patient safety
assessment
attitudes
Peshawar
How to Cite
Abstract
Background: Patient safety is defined as the reduction of risk for avoidable harm associated with healthcare delivery. It involves a balance between current knowledge, available resources, and the clinical context in which care is provided—compared to the risks of no treatment or alternative treatment. Hospitalized patients are particularly vulnerable to adverse events, including those related to medication administration. As the largest group within the healthcare workforce, nurses play a crucial role in promoting patient safety due to their continuous presence at the bedside. Therefore, integrating high-quality, culturally competent patient safety practices into nursing education is essential.
Aim:To assess the level of awareness regarding patient safety culture among nursing students in clinical settings.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving 200 nursing students. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Participants were selected through a convenience sampling technique. Written informed consent was obtained from all respondents prior to data collection.
Results: The sample included 80 female and 120 male students, with 160 students aged under 22 years and 32 between 23–27 years. Most participants were fourth-year students with no prior experience or training in patient safety. Only 55 students demonstrated an average level of awareness about patient safety, while 145 considered it to be highly important. Thirty-five students reported high confidence in identifying patient safety issues and expressed a willingness to report such incidents. However, only 25 students reported witnessing a safety-related incident, and just 7 students formally reported these incidents to the administration. The most commonly cited barriers to incident reporting were lack of knowledge and time constraints.
Conclusion: The study highlights a concerning gap in patient safety awareness among nursing students, emphasizing the need for enhanced education and training in this critical area. Addressing identified barriers could improve reporting behavior and overall safety culture within clinical learning environments.