Patient safety in nursing technician training

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the contents on patient safety in the training of nursing technicians. Methods: a documentary study, conducted in three technical nursing courses at a public university in northeastern Brazil, based on the Multi-Professional Patient Safety Curriculum Guide, published by the World Health Organization. Results: we found that, of the 26 subjects in each course, the tracking terms were found in 22 subjects in the A/C courses, 23 in the B course. The topics of the guide with the highest number of terms were the improvement in medication safety, with 85 terms (22.6%), and Infection prevention and control, with 75 terms (20%). The contents do not express the comprehensiveness of patient safety education; some subjects had this focus, while others did not. Conclusions: the documents revealed gaps in the contents related to patient safety and demonstrated that they are addressed only in the course syllabus and discipline plans.

COVID-19 Vaccination Compliance and Associated Factors among Medical Students during an Early Phase of Vaccination Rollout—A Survey from Israel

COVID-19 is “a once-in-a-century” pandemic, bringing with it unparalleled health, social, and economic ramifications. As part of the world’s efforts to restrain the pandemic, vaccine development has been expedited. This population-representative survey in Israel aimed to investigate whether the knowledge, attitudes, and vaccination status of medical students affect their intention to recommend COVID-19 vaccination (as well as reasons for refusal and acceptance of the vaccine). The questionnaire was anonymous, via Google Forms app in December 2021. One-hundred and four medical students completed the survey. Overwhelmingly, (91.3%) COVID-19 vaccination status and intention to receive the vaccine were positively associated with intention to recommend. Twenty-five percent of the students replied that they lacked knowledge regarding the vaccine. A statistically significant association was found between experiencing quarantine and the intention to be vaccinated (p = 0.034). There was a significant positive relationship between the number of symptoms from previous vaccines and the fear of COVID-19 (rs = 0.272, p < 0.01). Prior vaccination did not have an effect on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. This first study evaluating COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Israeli medical students highlighted the need for medical programs to emphasize the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination in the protection of healthcare workers and patient safety. Education, awareness campaigns, and regulation of vaccine trials could further decrease COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine rates among medical students.

Theory in quality improvement and patient safety education: A scoping review

Introduction Theory plays an important role in education programming and research. However, its use in quality improvement and patient safety education has yet to be fully characterized. The authors undertook a scoping review to examine the use of theory in quality improvement and patient safety education. Methods Eligible articles used theory to inform the design or study of a quality improvement or patient safety curriculum. The authors followed scoping review methodology and searched articles referenced in 20 systematic reviews of quality improvement and patient safety education, or articles citing one of these reviews, and hand searched eligible article references. Data analysis involved descriptive and interpretive summaries of theories used and the perspectives the theories offered. Results Eligibility criteria were met by 28 articles, and 102 articles made superficial mention of theory. Eligible articles varied in professional group, learning stage and journal type. Theories fell into two broad categories: learning theories (n = 20) and social science theories (n = 11). Theory was used in the design (n = 12) or study (n = 17) of quality improvement and patient safety education. The range of theories shows the opportunity afforded by using more than one type of theory. Discussion Theory can guide decisions regarding quality improvement and patient safety education practices or play a role in selecting a methodology or lens through which to study educational processes and outcomes. Educators and researchers should make deliberate choices around the use of theory that relates to aspects of an educational program that they seek to illuminate.

Does problem-based learning education improve knowledge, attitude, and perception toward patient safety among nursing students? A randomized controlled trial

Background Patient safety is a top priority for any health care system. Most universities are looking for teaching methods through which they would be able to enhance students’ clinical decision-making capabilities and their self-centered learning to ensure safe and quality nursing care. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of patient safety education through problem-based learning (PBL) on nursing students’ knowledge, attitude, and perceptions toward patient safety. Methods This randomized, controlled trial was conducted from September 2019 to January 2020. A total of 78 fourth-year nursing students participated in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. In the intervention group, the educational materials were presented to the students using the PBL method during eight sessions of 45–60 min. In each control group, nursing students received eight education sessions through lectures and discussing the same educational content. Data were gathered 1 month after the intervention using demographic information and knowledge, attitudes, and perception questionnaires. Data were analyzed in SPSS ver. 22.0 using descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential (chi-square test, independent t-test, paired t-test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)) statistics. Results The results indicated that the difference in the mean scores of knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of the nursing students about patient safety was statistically significant between the two groups after the PBL education (p = 0.001). The mean scores of students’ knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of patient safety increased significantly in the intervention group. Conclusions Implementing patient safety education through PBL positively affects knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of patient safety among nursing students. Thus, the research team recommended the PBL method to be used by nursing professors to improve nursing students’ clinical skills and cognitive abilities to ensure safe patient care. Trial registration IRCT20190925044881N1; October 17, 2019.

Development and Effectiveness of a Patient Safety Education Program for Inpatients

Background: Patient safety is considered an important issue in the field of healthcare, and most advanced countries. Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate a patient safety education program among hospitalized patients. Of the 69 participants, 33 completed the patient safety education program while the 36 remaining participants were given educational booklets. The program was used to measure knowledge about patient safety, patient safety perception, and willingness to participate in patient safety. Methods: Patient safety education was developed by the analysis–design–development–implementation–evaluation model considering expert advice, patient needs, and an extensive literature review. Data were collected from 20 July to 13 November 2020. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical program. The effectiveness of the experimental and control groups before and after education was analyzed using paired t-tests, and the difference in the amount of increase in the measured variables for each group was analyzed using independent t-tests. Results: The experimental group had significantly higher patient safety scores (t = 2.52, p = 0.014) and patient safety perception (t = 2.09, p = 0.040) than those of the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the willingness to participate in patient safety. Conclusion: The patient safety education program developed using mobile tablet PCs could be an effective tool to enhance patient involvement in preventing events that may threaten the safety of patients. Further studies are recommended to develop a variety of educational interventions to increase patient safety knowledge and perceptions of patients and caregivers.