[Room of horrors: impact on attitudes towards resident safety-A pre-post study].

Abstract

Background: Safety risks in residential long-term care arise from complex care situations and the vulnerability of residents. Simulation-based methods, such as a room of horrors (RoH) intervention, can enhance staff awareness of these risks. This study aimed to investigate how staff attitudes toward resident safety in long-term care develop in the context of a RoH intervention.

Method: A written standardized pre-post survey with 176 participants was conducted, measuring attitudes toward safety risks using the German short version of the attitudes to patient safety questionnaire (G-APSQshort).

Results: The G‑APSQshort score significantly increased from 5.4 to 5.6 points (p < 0.001), with care assistants showing the greatest improvement (p < 0.001). Additionally, 77.3% of participants would recommend the RoH concept further and 80.2% expressed a desire for regular RoH interventions.

Conclusion: The RoH intervention enhances staff awareness and attitudes toward resident safety, fostering a safety culture and improving care quality in long-term care; however, the practical relevance of the findings requires further evaluation.