Patients and Health Workers’ Engagement in Patient Safety in Healthcare in Kitgum General Hospital
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
E-international Journals of Academic and Scientific Research
Abstract
The delivery of health care is known to involve potential safety risks for the
patients who are supposed to benefit from medical treatment and care. Over the years, efforts
have been put in place to reduce the occurrence of safety risks and improve on patient quality of
care. Both the health care providers and patients have their respective roles to play. Bringing on
board patients in efforts to minimise safety risks, also known as patient engagement, proved
effective.
The objectives of the study were; to ascertain the level of awareness about patient
safety in healthcare among patients and health workers, to determine the level of health workers
engagement in patient safety in healthcare, assess the level of patient engagement in patient
safety, as well as to determine the factors affecting patients and health workers engagement in
patient safety in health care in Kitgum General Hospital.
This was a descriptive, cross sectional study of patients and health workers’
engagement in patient safety in healthcare in Kitgum General Hospital (KGH). The study took
both qualitative and quantitative dimensions. A probability sample of 384 patients was
interviewed using structured questionnaires and 103health workers were studied by observation
and key informant interviews. Documentation review of previous patient files (50files) was
carried out to assess the depth of patient identification, as a measure to minimize medical errors Pre-testing of the questionnaires and training of research Assistants were done prior to the study
to ensure quality of the research. Ethical considerations in research were strictly adhered to.
The level of awareness about patient safety among patients and health workers was
found to be 46.5% and 51% respectively.
The level of health workers engagement in patient safety was found to be 51.4% while
engagement of patients in patient safety was at 52.1%
The factors affecting patients and health workers engagement were mainly demographic
factors such as age and level of education, among others.
In conclusion, health workers in KGH were 4.5% more aware about patient safety
than the patients. However, patients in KGH are 0.7% more engaged in patient safety than the
health workers.
Description
Keywords
Patient safety, Healthcare, Patients, Health workers