Exploring the Depth of Patient Safety and Care: An Investigation into the Knowledge and Attitudes of Healthcare Students Across Undergraduate, Graduate, and Postgraduate Levels
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Abstract
Background: Patient safety is a cornerstone of healthcare education, aiming to minimize harm to patients through the reduction of errors. The global emphasis on enhancing patient safety has led to the development of various tools and curricula designed to foster a culture of safety among healthcare professionals, including dental students. With the World Health Organization's endorsement of the Patient Safety Curriculum Guide, there's a recognized need to integrate patient safety principles comprehensively into healthcare training programs.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes towards patient safety among dental undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students across private and public sector institutes in Karachi, utilizing the Attitude to Patient Safety Questionnaire version III (APSQ-III) as a measure.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling 180 participants through convenience sampling from both private and public dental schools in Karachi. The APSQ-III, a validated tool comprising 33 items across nine domains of patient safety, was employed to gather data on students' perceptions. Statistical analysis involved mean score calculations and reliability assessment using Cronbach's alpha.
Results: The majority of participants were female (78.9%), with a significant number of undergraduates (169) compared to postgraduates (11). Public sector institutions accounted for a larger share of participants (98) than private (82). Overall, students demonstrated positive attitudes towards patient safety, with mean scores across all domains exceeding 5 on a 7-point Likert scale. Notably, Safety Training and Error Reporting Confidence were highlighted, with postgraduates showing particularly high scores in these areas. The reliability of the APSQ-III in this context was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha greater than 0.8.
Conclusion: The study underscores the utility of the APSQ-III in dentistry for evaluating patient safety perceptions, revealing generally positive attitudes and a sound base of knowledge among dental students in Karachi. These findings advocate for the continued emphasis on patient safety education within dental curricula to cultivate a proactive safety culture.
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