Title: Drivers of hospital safety culture quality in emerging economies: the case of Saudi Arabia

Authors: Mario Ferrer; Ricardo Santa; Anita Medhekar; Erick Calvo; Lina Paola Molina-Sánchez

Addresses: College of Business, Al Faisal University, Al Zahrawi Street, Al Maather, Al Takhassusi Rd, Riyadh 11533, P.O. Box 50927, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ' College of Business, Universidad ICESI, Cl. 18 #122-135, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia ' CQU Australia, Building 34/2.13, Off Bruce Highway, 4702, Rockhampton, Australia ' Engineering Faculty, Universidad del Atlántico, Km 7 Antigua Via Puerto Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia ' Department of Industrial Engineering, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Cra. 7 No. 40-62, Edificio José Gabriel Maldonado, Colombia

Abstract: The objective of this study is to identify the elements that contribute most to the culture of quality in patient safety in Saudi Arabian hospitals. Additionally, this study seeks to establish and test a model to determine relations between the drivers of safety culture. In order to test the proposed hypotheses, a self-administered questionnaire was submitted to 110 hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Research findings indicated that Saudi Arabian hospitals need to adapt a clear communication policy and respond to feedback after errors are discovered so as to create a culture of quality, safety and constant enhancement. Also, they need to adopt a policy of non-punitive response to errors, so that employees are able to learn from their mistakes and prevent similar ones in the future, without fear of the consequences of reporting an error.

Keywords: hospital; safety culture; documentation; non-punitive response to errors; quality of communication; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2018.089806

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2018 Vol.23 No.3, pp.369 - 384

Received: 16 Mar 2016
Accepted: 21 Jan 2017
Published online: 12 Feb 2018 *

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