The challenges and opportunities of patient safety culture in neurosurgical departments from the Republic of Moldova

Neurosurgery is a high-risk speciality, so the Patient Safety Culture should become a priority to improve patient safety and the quality of medical care. The purpose of the study was to explore the perception of Patient Safety Culture (PSC) among the staff in the neurosurgical departments of the Republic of Moldova. A cross-sectional study was conducted in neurosurgical departments using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC). Descriptive statistics were carried out, comprising the Cronbach "?" coefficient, frequency of positive answers (PPRs), and level of minimum and maximum of 95% confidential interval. PPRs by question and dimension were analysed overall and classified according to the Harrington scale. Medical staff from five hospitals voluntarily participated in the study. Most of the respondents rated the patient's safety grade as excellent and very good. The value of the frequency of positive responses to the dimensions of the survey varies between 37.3% (nonpunitive response to error) and 85.0% (teamwork within units). The dimensions with the highest score of the PPRs stand out: „teamwork within units”, „organizational learning- continuous improvement” and „supervisor/manager expectations and actions promoting patient safety”. The dimension with a high score of PPRs was „feedback and communication about error”. The dimensions with a satisfactory score of the PPRs were „handoffs and transitions”, „frequency of events reported”, „management support for patient safety”, „teamwork across units”, „communication openness”, „overall perceptions on patient safety”, „non-punitive response to errors” and „staffing”. For the first time in the Republic of Moldova, the perception of patient safety culture in neurosurgery departments was studied. The results reflect the positive attitude of the staff towards most dimensions of the patient safety culture. The study made it possible to highlight the strong and vulnerable points of the patient safety culture in neurosurgical departments from Moldova.