Did healthcare professional perspectives on the quality and safety environment in New Zealand public hospitals change from 2012 to 2017?
Journal of Health Organization and Management
ISSN: 1477-7266
Article publication date: 21 September 2020
Issue publication date: 26 September 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The work environment is known to influence professional attitudes toward quality and safety. This study sought to measure these attitudes amongst health professionals working in New Zealand District Health Boards (DHBs), initially in 2012 and again in 2017.
Design/methodology/approach
Three questions were included in a national New Zealand health professional workforce survey conducted in 2012 and again in 2017. All registered health professionals employed with DHBs were invited to participate in an online survey. Areas of interest included teamwork amongst professionals; involvement of patients and families in efforts to improve patient care and ease of speaking up when a problem with patient care is perceived.
Findings
In 2012, 57% of respondents (58% in 2017) agreed health professionals worked as a team; 71% respondents (73% in 2017) agreed health professionals involved patients and families in efforts to improve patient care and 69% (65% in 2017) agreed it was easy to speak up in their clinical area, with none of these changes being statistically significant. There were some response differences by respondent characteristics.
Practical implications
With no change over time, there is a demand for improvement. Also for leadership in policy, management and amongst health professionals if goals of improving quality and safety are to be delivered upon.
Originality/value
This study provides a simple three-question method of probing perceptions of quality and safety and an important set of insights into progress in New Zealand DHBs.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
We thank the survey respondents for participating and the DHBs for assistance in conducting the survey.Funding: New Zealand Health Quality and Safety Commission.Data sharing statement: Data are available upon reasonable request.Ethical approval: The 2012 study protocol and survey tool was reviewed, including for ethical considerations and approved by the National Executive of the National Health Board, Board and executive team of the Health Quality and Safety Commission and CEO and leadership teams of the 19 DHBs. The 2017 study protocol was reviewed and approved by the University of Otago Human Research Ethics Committee.Contributor statement: Both authors were involved in the design and conceptualisation of the study. RG lead the study conduct, wrote and managed article drafts. SH undertook data analyses and contributed methods sections. Both authors reviewed and contributed to all drafts.Contributor statement: Both authors were involved in the design and conceptualisation of the study. RG lead the study conduct, wrote and managed article drafts. SH undertook data analyses and contributed methods sections. Both authors reviewed and contributed to all drafts.Competing Interests: none.
Citation
Gauld, R. and Horsburgh, S. (2020), "Did healthcare professional perspectives on the quality and safety environment in New Zealand public hospitals change from 2012 to 2017?", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 34 No. 7, pp. 775-788. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-11-2019-0331
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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