From Communication Strengths to Cultural Gaps: Patient Safety Competencies in a Vietnamese Provincial Hospital.

Abstract

Background: Patient safety is critical to health care quality, yet frontline staff competencies in low- and middle-income countries are understudied. Understanding these competencies is vital for designing interventions to enhance patient safety culture.

Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in July 2024 involving 418 nurses, midwives, and technicians in Vietnam. The Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey assesses six patient safety domains on a 5-point Likert scale. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of high patient safety confidence (mean score ≥ 3.0).

Results: The mean competency score was 3.75 (SD = 0.5), with 89.0% scoring ≥ 3.0. Highest scores were in communicating effectively (3.83) and working in teams (3.79); lowest were in culture of safety (3.69). Higher confidence was correlated with age 30 to 39, nursing role, postgraduate education, >10 years' experience, and perceiving excellent hospital safety.

Conclusion: Moderate patient safety confidence exists, but gaps in cultural competencies and barriers to speaking up persist. Targeted training and nonpunitive systems are needed to strengthen patient safety in Vietnam.