The association between self-reported workload and perceptions of patient safety culture: A study of intensive care unit nurses.

Aim And Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between workload and patient safety culture (PSC) among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses.

Background: ICU nurses play a vital role in promoting patient safety and are essential indicators in any healthcare system including ICUs. Research studies focusing on the relationship between nursing workload and PSC among ICU nurses are limited.

Design: Descriptive correlational design.

Methods: The study participants involved 380 ICU nurses at two hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected between February 2019-April 2019 and were analysed using SPSS v.22 statistical software. This study was guided by the STROBE checklist.

Results: The results showed that ICU nurses have high positive perceptions in the following PSC subscales: teamwork within units, organisational learning-continuous improvement, frequency of events reported, feedback and communication about error, management support for patient safety, teamwork across units, supervisor/manager expectations and actions promoting patient safety, handoffs and transitions, nonpunitive response to errors, staffing and overall perceptions of patient safety. However, the participants collectively considered the overall grade on patient safety as poor. The participants had high mean scores in physical demand, effort, mental demand and overall workload. A statistically significant variability existed in the mean scores of the PSC subscales and workload of ICU nurses. The overall workload was significantly and negatively associated with the PSC perceptions of ICU nurses.

Conclusion: The ICU nurses experienced high overall workload, physical demand, effort and mental demand which influenced the poor grade of their overall perceived PSC.

Relevance To Clinical Practice: Identifying differences and associations with the perceptions of ICU nurses regarding workload and PSC is important because such perceptions may affect their delivery of nursing care. Hospital and nursing administrators must use the study results to find strategies that address workload issues and enhance patient safety.