Influence of perceived patient safety culture on patient safety management activity in the dental hygienists

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the influence of perceived patient safety culture on patient safety management activity in the dental hygienists. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 292 dental hygienists in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggido from March 1 to April 8, 2016. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects (9 items), patient safety culture (44 items), and patient safety management activity (25 items) by Likert 5 point scale. Data were analyzed by t test, one way ANOVA, stepwise multiple regression test, and post-hoc Tukey test using SPSS 18.0 program. Results: The perceived patient safety culture was 3.50 on average. Entire organization was the highest score (3.68) and followed the communication process (3.55), the environment of work unit (3.47), the attitude of supervisor/ manager (3.45), and the frequency of events reported (2.98). The average of patient safety management activity was 3.71. As for the factors of patient safety culture on patient safety management activity, communication process was the most influential factor (β =0.268), and followed the entire organization (β =0.265), the environment of work unit (β =0.166), the frequency of events reported (β =0.104), and among the control variables. Work place proved to be the only significant variable. Conclusions: In order to promote patient safety management activity of dental institutions, the patient safety culture should be created and established. The influence of communication process and patient safety culture at entire organization level was huge. So the environment of work unit and the perceived patient safety culture in the process of reported events were influencing factors. The strategy for patient safety management activity should be considered because of low level of perceived patient safety culture.