Regional perspectives on patient safety policies and initiatives: a focus group study with patient safety leaders in the Middle East and Asian regions

Abstract

Preventing and reducing risks and harm to patients is of critical importance as unsafe care is a leading cause of death and disability globally. However, the lack of consolidated information on patient safety policies and initiatives at regional levels represents an evidence gap with implications for policy and planning. The aim of the study was to answer the question of what patient safety policies and initiatives are currently in place in the Middle East and Asian regions and what were the main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in developing these. A qualitative approach using online focus groups was adopted. Participants attended focus groups beginning in August 2022. A topic guide was developed using a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats framework analysis approach. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was used to ensure the recommended standards of qualitative data reporting were met. 21 participants from 11 countries participated in the study. Current patient safety policies identified were categorised across 5 thematic areas and initiatives were categorised across a further 10 thematic areas. Strengths of patient safety initiatives included enabling healthcare worker training, leadership commitment in hospitals, and stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Weaknesses included a disconnect between health delivery and education, implementation gaps, low clinical awareness and buy-in at the facility level, and lack of leadership engagement. Just culture, safety by design and education were considered opportunities, alongside data collection and reporting for research and shared learning. Future threats were low leadership commitment, changing leadership, poor integration across the system, a public-private quality gap and political instability in some contexts. Undertaking further research regionally will enable shared learning and the development of best practice examples. Future research should explore the development of policies and initiatives for patient safety at the provider, local and national levels that can inform action across the system.

Keywords: Global Health; Health services research; Patient safety; Qualitative research; Quality improvement.