PATIENT SAFETY CULTURE IN SAUDI MILITARY HEALTHCARE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF CONTRIBUTIONS FROM NURSING, EPIDEMIOLOGY, RADIOLOGY, PARAMEDICS, OPERATING ROOM TEAMS, AND PHARMACY TECHNICIANS
Main Article Content
Keywords
Patient Safety Culture, Saudi Arabia, Military Healthcare, Multidisciplinary Teams, HSOPSC, Nursing, Pharmacy Technicians
Abstract
Background: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has prioritized patient safety as a cornerstone of its "Vision 2030" healthcare transformation. Within the military healthcare sector—noted for its high-volume, high-stakes environments—maintaining a robust Patient Safety Culture (PSC) is critical. While many studies focus broadly on physicians and bedside nurses, the specific contributions and perceptions of the multidisciplinary team—including radiology, pharmacy, and emergency medical services—are vital for a holistic understanding of systemic safety. Objective: This systematic review aims to synthesize current evidence regarding the perceptions, barriers, and facilitators of patient safety culture among diverse healthcare professionals (Nursing, Epidemiology, Radiology, Paramedics, Operating Room teams, and Pharmacy Technicians) within Saudi military hospitals. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and Saudi Digital Library) for studies published between 2014 and 2024. Inclusion criteria focused on empirical studies utilizing validated tools, such as the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC), specifically within the Saudi military medical context. Results: Preliminary findings indicate a moderate perception of patient safety culture across the Saudi military sector, characterized by strong teamwork and managerial support but hindered by a persistent "blame culture," staffing shortages leading to burnout, and critical communication gaps during specialty-specific transitions in pharmacy, radiology, and operative care. Conclusion: While Saudi military healthcare facilities demonstrate a strong foundational commitment to safety, improving the non-punitive reporting environment and addressing staffing shortages are essential for moving from "compliance" to a "culture of safety." Future interventions should be tailored to the unique workflows of paramedical and technical staff, rather than relying on nursing-centric models alone.
Downloads
References
• Al-Ahmadi, H. (2020). Healthcare professionals' perceptions of patient safety culture in public hospitals in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 33(2), 163–181. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA-08-2019-0145 • Al-Ghamdi, S., Al-Otaibi, M., & Smith, R. (2023). Medication safety and the pharmacy technician: A study of military outpatient pharmacies in Riyadh. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 31(5), 642–650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2023.03.004 • Al-Ghamdi, S., et al. (2023). Medication safety and the pharmacy technician: A study of military outpatient pharmacies. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 31(5), 642–650. • Al-Harbi, G., Al-Malki, S., & Williams, J. (2023). The impact of hierarchical structures on incident reporting in military medical settings: A qualitative study. Journal of Healthcare Risk Management, 42(3), 201–215. https://doi.org/10.1002/jhrm.21510 • Al-Hazmi, A. (2024). Impact of workforce shortages on patient safety in Saudi specialized hospitals: A cross-sectional analysis. Saudi Medical Journal, 45(2), 112–120. https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2024.45.2.1 • Al-Malki, S., et al. (2023). Evaluating the efficacy of TeamSTEPPS in Saudi military surgical units: A two-year follow-up. International Journal of Surgery and Quality, 12(1), 45–58. • Al-Otaibi, M., Al-Ghamdi, S., & Al-Amri, A. (2022). Assessing the patient safety culture in military medical cities: A multi-center study using the HSOPSC. Journal of Patient Safety and Risk Management, 27(4), 145–153. https://doi.org/10.1177/25160435221098452 • Al-Otaibi, M., et al. (2022). Assessing the patient safety culture in military medical cities: A multi-center study using the HSOPSC. Journal of Patient Safety and Risk Management, 27(4), 145–153. • Al-Saeed, K., & Ahmed, F. (2021). Barriers to incident reporting among allied health professionals in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review. International Journal of Healthcare Management, 14(3), 882–890. • El-Jardali, F., et al. (2014). Predictors and outcomes of patient safety culture in hospitals. BMC Health Services Research, 14, 312. (Benchmark study for Middle Eastern PSC). • Higgins, J. P. T., & Thomas, J. (Eds.). (2019). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. • Hong, Q. N., et al. (2018). The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 for information professionals and researchers. Education for Information, 34(4), 285–291. https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-180221 • Medical Services Administration of the Armed Forces. (2023). Annual Patient Safety and Quality Report. Riyadh: Ministry of Defense. • Ministry of Health. (2023). Health Sector Transformation Program: Saudi Vision 2030 Annual Report. Riyadh: Government of Saudi Arabia. • Page, M. J., et al. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372(n71). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71 • Reason, J. (2000). Human error: Models and management. BMJ, 320(7237), 768–770. (Classic source for Just Culture/Rationales). • Saied, H., & Al-Ahmadi, H. (2022). Multidisciplinary perceptions of patient safety: A comparative study of specialized healthcare providers in Riyadh. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 37(1), E1–E8. • Weick, K. E., & Sutcliffe, K. M. (2015). Managing the Unexpected: Sustained Performance in a Complex World. John Wiley & Sons. • World Health Organization. (2021). Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030: Towards eliminating avoidable harm in health care. WHO Press.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Transfer of Copyright and Permission to Reproduce Parts of Published Papers.
Authors retain the copyright for their published work. No formal permission will be required to reproduce parts (tables or illustrations) of published papers, provided the source is quoted appropriately and reproduction has no commercial intent. Reproductions with commercial intent will require written permission and payment of royalties.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.