Patient safety culture in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in a hospital.

OBJECTIVES

to assess patient safety culture during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the dimensions that need to be improved in hospital settings and which sector, open or closed, direct or indirect care, exhibits a higher level of safety culture.

METHODS

a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The validated version for Brazil of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture instrument was applied to assess patient safety culture. Those dimensions with 75% positive responses were considered strengthened.

RESULTS

all dimensions presented results lower than 75% of positive responses. Closed sectors showed a stronger safety culture compared to open ones. Indirect care sectors had a low general perception of patient safety when compared to direct care sectors.

CONCLUSIONS

with the pandemic, points of weakness became even more evident, requiring attention and incisive interventions from the institution's leaders.