Health Professionals’ Perceptions of Icon Use to Enhance Patient Safety in Portuguese Hospitals

This study explores healthcare professionals’ perceptions of graphical icons for hospital risk communication. The aim is to assess whether the use of standardized, visually clear icons can help healthcare professionals overcome communication barriers and improve patient safety by enabling faster and more accurate identification of risks such as falls, aggression, or self-harm. Conducted in the second quarter of 2025 across multiple northern Portuguese hospitals, the survey involved 83 professionals from diverse clinical backgrounds, ensuring a heterogeneous and unbiased sample. Results show that most participants were familiar with graphical icons and preferred interfaces combining visual and textual elements. Indeed, the strong majority (75%) believed that icons can enhance patient safety, and 90% agreed they improve communication among healthcare teams. Key perceived benefits included faster access to critical information, reduced errors, improved interdisciplinary communication, and better support for clinical decision-making. Open-ended responses emphasized the importance of standardization, clear differentiation between icons, and proper staff training. The findings highlight widespread support for integrating standardized iconography into clinical workflows. Future research will involve usability testing of an icon set developed from this study to assess its impact on patient safety, communication efficiency, and the overall effectiveness of the system in routine healthcare practice and real-world clinical environments.