Table 4.
Median and mean scores for the 62 items in the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire – Ambulatory Version (SAQ-A) among 288 health care providers in five nursing homes in Tønsberg, Norway, 2016
| Statement | Missing/NAa n (%) | Median scoreb (range) | Mean scoreb (SDc) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. High levels of workload are common in this nursing home ward. | 13 (4.5) | 5 (1–5) | 4.5 (0.9) |
| 2. I like my job. | 3 (1.0) | 5 (1–5) | 4.7 (0.7) |
| 3. Input from personnel is well received in this nursing home ward. | 11 (3.8) | 4 (1–5) | 3.9 (1.0) |
| 4. I would feel safe being treated here as a patient. | 9 (3.1) | 4 (1–5) | 4.1 (1.0) |
| 5. Medical errors are handled appropriately in this nursing home ward. | 30 (10.4) | 4 (1–5) | 4.0 (1.1) |
| 6. This nursing home ward does a good job of training new personnel. | 11 (3.8) | 4 (1–5) | 3.9 (1.1) |
| 7. All the necessary information for diagnostic and therapeutic decisions is routinely available to me. | 26 (9.1) | 4 (1–5) | 3.8 (1.1) |
| 8. Working in this nursing home ward is like being part of a large family. | 16 (5.5) | 4 (1–5) | 3.7 (1.3) |
| 9. Senior management of this nursing home ward is doing a good job. | 16 (5.6) | 4 (1–5) | 3.8 (1.1) |
| 10. The management of this nursing home ward supports my daily efforts. | 14 (4.8) | 4 (1–5) | 3.9 (1.1) |
| 11. I receive appropriate feedback about my performance. | 7 (2.4) | 4 (1–5) | 3.7 (1.2) |
| 12 d . In this nursing home ward, it is difficult to discuss errors. | 15 (5.2) | 3 (1–5) | 3.2 (1.3) |
| 13. Briefing other personnel before a procedure (e.g., wound care) is important for patient safety. | 18 (6.3) | 5 (1–5) | 4.6 (0.8) |
| 14. Briefings are common in this nursing home ward. | 18 (6.2) | 4 (1–5) | 3.7 (1.1) |
| 15. This nursing home ward is a good place to work. | 11 (3.8) | 5 (1–5) | 4.3 (0.9) |
| 16. Communication breakdowns which lead to delays in delivery of care are common. | 32 (11.2) | 3 (1–5) | 2.8 (1.3) |
| 17. The nursing home ward management does not knowingly compromise the safety of patients. | 40 (13.9) | 4 (1–5) | 3.7 (1.3) |
| 18. The levels of staffing in this nursing home ward are sufficient to handle the number of patients. | 20 (6.9) | 4 (1–5) | 2.6 (1.3) |
| 19. Decision making in this nursing home ward utilizes input from relevant personnel. | 25 (8.7) | 4 (1–5) | 3.8 (1.0) |
| 20. I am encouraged by my colleagues to report any patient safety concerns I may have. | 29 (10.1) | 4 (1–5) | 4.0 (1.1) |
| 21. The culture in this nursing home ward makes it easy to learn from the errors of others. | 15 (5.2) | 4 (1–5) | 3.8 (1.1) |
| 22. This nursing home ward deals constructively with problem personnel. | 16 (5.6) | 4 (1–5) | 3.5 (1.2) |
| 23. The medical equipment in this nursing home ward is adequate. | 26 (9.0) | 4 (1–5) | 3.4 (1.1) |
| 24 d . In this nursing home ward, it is difficult to speak up if I perceive a problem with patient care. | 23 (8.0) | 4 (1–5) | 3.4 (1.3) |
| 25. When my workload becomes excessive, my performance is impaired. | 10 (3.4) | 4 (1–5) | 4.0 (1.2) |
| 26. I am provided with adequate, timely information about events in the nursing home ward that might affect my work. | 17 (5.9) | 4 (1–5) | 3.8 (1.1) |
| 27. I have seen others make errors that had the potential to harm patients. | 23 (8.0) | 3 (1–5) | 2.7 (1.5) |
| 28. I know the proper channels to direct questions regarding patient safety in this nursing home ward. | 19 (6.6) | 5 (1–5) | 4.1 (1.2) |
| 29. I am proud to work at this nursing home ward. | 8 (2.8) | 5 (1–5) | 4.3 (0.9) |
| 30. Disagreements in this nursing home ward are resolved appropriately (i.e., not who is right but what is best for the patient). | 16 (5.6) | 4 (1–5) | 4.0 (1.1) |
| 31. I am less effective at work when fatigued. | 10 (3.5) | 4 (1–5) | 4.0 (1.2) |
| 32. I am more likely to make errors in tense or hostile situations. | 15 (5.2) | 4 (1–5) | 3.8 (1.3) |
| 33. Stress from personal problems adversely affects my performance. | 24 (8.3) | 4 (1–5) | 3.3 (1.4) |
| 34. I have the support I need from other personnel to care for patients. | 16 (5.6) | 5 (1–5) | 4.3 (1.0) |
| 35. It is easy for personnel in this nursing home ward to ask questions when there is something that they do not understand. | 23 (8.0) | 5 (1–5) | 4.3 (1.0) |
| 36. Disruptions in the continuity of care can be detrimental to patient safety. | 27 (9.4) | 5 (1–5) | 4.3 (1.0) |
| 37. During emergencies, I can predict what other personnel are going to do next. | 27 (9.4) | 4 (1–5) | 3.7 (1.0) |
| 38. The physicians and nurses here work together as a well-coordinated team. | 42 (14.6) | 4 (1–5) | 4.0 (1.0) |
| 39. I am frequently unable to express disagreement with staff physicians in this nursing home ward. | 92 (31.9) | 3 (1–5) | 2.5 (1.3) |
| 40. Truly professional personnel can leave personal problems behind when working. | 23 (8.0) | 5 (1–5) | 4.2 (1.1) |
| 41. Morale in this nursing home ward is high. | 10 (3.5) | 5 (1–5) | 4.3 (1.0) |
| 42. Trainees in my discipline are adequately supervised. | 25 (8.7) | 4 (1–5) | 4.1 (1.0) |
| 43. I know the first and last names of all the personnel I worked with during my last shift. | 19 (6.6) | 4 (1–5) | 3.9 (1.4) |
| 44. I have made errors that had the potential to harm patients. | 28 (9.7) | 1 (1–5) | 1.9 (1.3) |
| 45. Attending health care providers in this nursing home ward are doing a good job. | 23 (8.0) | 5 (1–5) | 4.5 (0.9) |
| 46. All the personnel in this nursing home ward take responsibility for patient safety. | 23 (8.0) | 5 (1–5) | 4.2 (1.0) |
| 47. I feel fatigued when I have to get up in the morning and face another day on the job. | 28 (9.7) | 2 (1–5) | 2.3 (1.4) |
| 48. Patient safety is constantly reinforced as the priority in this nursing home ward. | 22 (7.7) | 4 (1–5) | 4.0 (1.0) |
| 49. I feel burned out from my work. | 26 (9.1) | 1 (1–5) | 2.0 (1.3) |
| 50. Important issues are well communicated at shift changes. | 20 (6.9) | 4 (1–5) | 3.9 (1.2) |
| 51. There is widespread adherence to clinical guidelines and evidence-based criteria in this nursing home ward. | 35 (12.1) | 4 (1–5) | 4.1 (0.9) |
| 52. I feel frustrated by my job. | 23 (8.0) | 2 (1–5) | 2.4 (1.4) |
| 53. I feel I am working too hard on my job. | 23 (8.0) | 3 (1–5) | 2.9 (1.4) |
| 54. Information obtained through incident reports is used to make patient care safer in this nursing home ward. | 31 (10.8) | 4 (1–5) | 3.5 (1.3) |
| 55. Personnel frequently disregard rules or guidelines (e.g., handwashing, wound care, etc.) that are established for this nursing home ward. | 19 (6.6) | 2 (1–5) | 2.2 (1.4) |
| 56. Fatigue impairs my performance during emergency situations. | 31 (10.8) | 2 (1–5) | 2.5 (1.5) |
| 57. Fatigue impairs my performance during routine care. | 36 (12.6) | 2 (1–5) | 2.5 (1.5) |
| 58. I am satisfied with the current referral process in this nursing home ward. | 51 (17.7) | 4 (2–5) | 3.8 (1.0) |
| 59. There is adequate and timely transfer of patient information between the nursing home physician and the general practitioner. | 127 (44.1) | 3 (1–5) | 3.5 (1.1) |
| 60. Medications are refilled in a timely manner. | 78 (27.1) | 4 (1–5) | 4.1 (1.1) |
| 61. Medications are refilled correctly. | 88 (30.6) | 4 (1–5) | 4.1 (1.1) |
| 62. Abnormal test results are frequently lost or overlooked. | 80 (27.8) | 1 (1–5) | 1.9 (1.1) |
aNA = Not applicable. Not included in calculations of mean scores
bScoring: 1 = disagree strongly, 2 = disagree slightly, 3 = neutral, 4 = agree slightly, 5 = agree strongly.
cStandard deviation.
dReverse-scored items.
Results based on answers from 288 health care providers working in five nursing homes in Tønsberg, Norway
Items included in confirmatory factor analyses in italics (n = 28)