HOUSE OFFICERS' PERCEPTIONS OF PATIENT SAFETY AT THE DEFENCE SERVICES MEDICAL ACADEMY

Background: Patient safety is a core component of medical education globally, yet evidence from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) suggests persistent challenges in error reporting, disclosure, and systems-based understanding. Evaluating early-career doctors’ perceptions is essential to improving safety culture. Objective: To assess house officers’ perceptions of patient safety across nine domains at the Defence Services Medical Academy (DSMA). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 42 house officers using the Attitudes to Patient Safety Questionnaire Version III (APSQ-III). Responses to 26 items across nine domains were analysed. Results: Strongest positive attitudes appeared in team functioning (95%), patient involvement (89%), and training (77%). Lowest were disclosure responsibility (34%) and error reporting confidence (36%). Conclusion: DSMA house officers demonstrate strong teamwork and safety knowledge but low error reporting and disclosure confidence.