Patient safety assessment in Valiasr Hospital of Birjand in 2012

Patient safety، as a main element of quality health services، means avoidance of any penetrating injury to the patient during health care. This study aimed to investigate patient safety in different wards of Valiasr Hospital in Birjand in 2012. This descriptive cross-sectional study was done in Valiasr Hospital. The data were collected on the five dimensions of safety (i. e. safety of drug، medical equipment، physical space، infection control، and clinical process) through researcher-made checklists. Validity of the tool was confirmed by 10 professors as well as managers of Vice-Chancellor for Treatment; its reliability was measured 0. 72 through Cronbach''s alpha. The data were analyzed in SPSS (version 18) by descriptive indices (mean، SD) and independent t test. Drugs safety was calculated 2. 56±0. 178 as the highest mean and that of the physical space was 2. 19±0. 21 which was the lowest. Comparison of the overall safety throughout the hospital indicated that angiography ward had the maximum safety score mean of 2. 6±0. 13 while ENT had the minimum mean score of 2. 18±0. 21. Safety dimensions for different wards were considered as good and medium. There were significant differences between drugs safety and infection control in specialized and general wards (p<0. 05). In light of the results، it is necessary to more accurately assess the safety of the physical space of the hospital. Since the hospital space is one of the most important aspects of the physical environment of safety for both patients and the medical staff، enhanced safety can improve healthcare quality as well as patient satisfaction.