Introduction
Surgical interventions, which is one of the most important experiences of an individual’s life, are commonly used in the treatment of the diseases and improvement of health. In the intra-operative period when the surgical interventions are applied, by lying down operating table for diagnosis and a qualified surgical intervention, patients generally give full control and responsibility to authorized health workers so that they can take actions on behalf of them.1,2
As it is known, presentation of health service has a quite complicated structure. It is inevitable to think a process which involves more than one profession serving the same goal not to be complicated. Today, more than thirty occupation groups, from doctor to nurse and secretary to security personnel, have to work together in harmony in order to provide diagnosis, treatment, care, and other services. The most important priority should be providing service without harming the patient.3,4
Institute of Medicine (IOM), which is known to be the most effective institution that directs medical practices, defines patient safety as “prevention of patients’ injury”. It is reported that such case could be achieved with a care system which is based on safety culture involving health care workers, institutions, and patients; which prevents mistakes; and which learns from the mistakes happened.5 Half of the injurious cases happening in patients in the industrialized countries are reported to be surgery-related, and 5% are preventable. 6
The World Health Organization reports maintenance of safe surgery as “operating the right person and the right area; using protective methods for the hazards of anesthesia; being prepared for life-threatening respiratory tract, functions, and excessive blood loss; avoiding allergic or risky medicine; using methods that minimize the surgical area infection risk; preventing leaving sponge or surgical tools in the surgical area; defining surgical features accurately and safely; taking the necessary precautions for preventing traumas; enhancing effective communication techniques; and following surgical interventions and practices under the supervision of hospitals”.7
Prevention of patients’ injury is the responsibility of all the surgical team, and the precautions that should be taken should be for the patient, surgical team, and operating room.8 Majority of patient care and medical practices in the patient safety process are carried out by nurses. As nurses are the health personnel group which has most contact with patients, they have great importance in creating the patient safety culture. 9,10
Kunaviktikul et al. (2015) reported a positive correlation between extended working hours and patient outcomes such as patient identification errors, pressure ulcers, communication errors and patient complaints as well as nurse outcomes such as emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Additionally, study noted a negative correlation between extended work hours and job satisfaction as a whole, intent to stay and organizational productivity.11
American Institute of Medicine reports that formation of a patient safety culture plays an important role in decreasing preventable accidents and errors in health services. 12 Patient safety culture to be formed in institutions will create an environment where errors, processes, and system-related problems are discussed openly and without any worries about being punished; make patient safety-related practices successful and continuous; and thus substantially improve the health outcomes related to the diagnosis and treatment processes. 13-15
This study aims to find answers to the following questions:
What are the attitudes of health professionals having roles in perioperative care towards patient safety?
What are the factors that affect health professionals’ attitudes towards patient safety?