Influence of the work environment on patient safety and stress among healthcare professionals.

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare professionals, due to direct contact with patients, may face physical and psychological suffering. Therefore, institutions must ensure healthy environments for professionals and patients.

Objective: To classify the work environment and evaluate if healthy work environments provide greater safety climate for the patient and a lower level of professional stress.

Method: Quantitative, cross-sectional, and correlational study, carried out with 110 health professionals from a public hospital. The following instruments were applied: Healthy Work Environment Assessment Tool, the "Safety Climate" subscale of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire - Short Form 2006, and the Work Stress Scale.

Results: In the environment evaluation, the total score obtained was 3.10 ± 0.70 points. The correlations between the domains of the environment assessment tool and the safety climate were positive and significant, and for work stress, they were negative and significant.

Conclusion: This study classified the work environment as "Good" and healthy work environments provide a greater sensation of patient safety and a lower level of professional stress.