ORCID
- Debasish Kar: 0000-0002-1524-1312
Abstract
This research aims to investigate healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) attitudes towards patient safety and to explore the role ofvarious work-related factors that could be the barriers to safety-events reporting to modify these attitudes. A cross-sectionalsurvey was conducted, involving 629 HCPs who are working across health care sectors in the United Arab Emirates. HCPs in theUnited Arab Emirates, comprising 71.5% women and 27.8% men, displayed a generally positive attitude towards patient safety(mean score = 3.91). Sub-comparisons indicated high scores for team functioning (4.58 ± 0.62) and low scores for professionalincompetence as an error cause (2.86 ± 0.50). Common barriers to reporting safety events included uncertainty about proceduresand fear of retribution. Confidence in reporting correlated with higher scores, while fear of reprisal yielded lower scores. Variedperceptions of medical errors’ implications were noted. Clear reporting procedures and event definitions impacted safety attitudessignificantly. The study’s findings indicate an overall positive attitude towards patient safety among healthcare professionals.Promoting clear reporting protocols, addressing fear of reprisal, and providing ongoing education can improve patient safetyattitudes. Longitudinal research should further explore these dynamics for sustained improvements in healthcare safety culture.These results emphasize the importance of integrating patient safety education into medical training programs.
DOI Link
Publication Date
2026-01-16
Publication Title
Medicine
Volume
105
Issue
3
ISSN
1357-3039
Acceptance Date
2025-11-12
Deposit Date
2026-01-26
Funding
The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.
Keywords
Adult, Attitude of Health Personnel, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Personnel/psychology, Humans, Male, Medical Errors/psychology, Middle Aged, Patient Safety, Surveys and Questionnaires, United Arab Emirates
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
First Page
47170
Last Page
47170
Recommended Citation
Khan, M., Sohrab, A., Elbarazi, I., Elsayed, M., Al Falasi, R., & Kar, D. (2026) 'Attitudes toward patients' safety among healthcare professionals in the United Arab Emirates: A cross-sectional study', Medicine, 105(3), pp. 47170-47170. Available at: 10.1097/MD.0000000000047170
