Perception of patient safety culture among perioperative staff: exploring the roles of individual factors and organizational factors (6 October 2025)

Summary

Patient safety is a fundamental concern in healthcare, especially in high-risk settings such as operating theatres, where there is an increased likelihood of adverse events. Nonetheless, studies within the operating theatre setting remain limited. This study examined the influence of organisational and individual factors, and the moderating effects of job position, gender, and experience toward patient safety culture among perioperative staff at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) in Malaysia.

Content

Most respondents (67.2%) were registered nurses. The stress recognition dimension had the highest mean positive response rate at 73.0%, whereas the perceptions of the management dimension had the lowest at 22.6%. The study findings revealed a significant positive relationship between individual factors and the perception of patient safety culture 

Overall, the perception of patient safety culture in the SGH operating theatre was perceived as moderate, with substantial room for improvement. The lowest positive response rate in the management dimension implies the need for the organisation to address staffing shortage issues and improve workplace support to increase patient safety. Individual factors, such as job satisfaction and stress recognition, were significantly associated with these perceptions.

Future studies should explore influences such as government policies, budget allocation, and technological advancements to further enhance patient safety culture in operating theatres.