Perceptions of patient safety culture and its associated factors among doctors and nurses in Vietnamese hospitals: a cross-sectional study

Patient safety aims to minimize preventable harm in healthcare by fostering a culture of reporting, accountability, and communication. A strong Patient Safety Culture (PSC) enhances staff outcomes, reduces errors, and improves job satisfaction. This study assessed PSC scores and influencing factors among doctors and nurses in Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 15th 2022 to August 15th 2023 at a provincial Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital in Vietnam. The study included clinical healthcare staff and utilized the AHRQ Hospital Survey on PSC across 12 domains. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, Chi-square, and logistic regression using SPSS. The overall Cronbach’s alpha was 0.76 (range: 0.65–0.83) and the overall PSC score was 29.58. Among 228 participants (82.1% female, 56.2% nurses), females and nurses reported higher PSC scores, excelling in teamwork and staffing. Areas needing improvement included communication openness (1.79/3), staffing (1.20/4), and nonpunitive response to error (1.36/3). Higher education levels positively influenced PSC perception (OR = 2.81, 95% CI 1.30–6.07, p = 0.008). In our study, a positive PSC perception of 43.4% correlated with fewer medical errors, higher staff job satisfaction, and improved patient satisfaction. Balancing all PSC domains is crucial for healthcare quality. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess interventions’ long-term impact on PSC and medical errors.