Assessment of patient safety culture among nurses in Djibouti: a multicentric study

Background: Patient safety is essential for the quality of healthcare, but remains a major public health problem despite the attention paid by national and international organizations. This study, conducted in four hospitals in Djibouti between October 2023 and May 2024, aimed to assess the culture of patient safety from the perspective of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional design with the French version of the HSOPSC questionnaire, assessing ten dimensions of patient safety culture. The 239 participants answered 43 questions regarding their safety beliefs, behaviors, and skills. The data were analyzed using statistical tools Results: The results revealed a mixed perception of patient safety, with 37% of respondents rating it as acceptable and 38% as concerning. While teamwork and communication were generally perceived as satisfactory, deficiencies were identified in managerial support and error management. A punitive culture was reported by 82% of respondents, limiting incident reporting. Furthermore, 54% felt that understaffing compromised the quality of care, while 44% noted information loss during handovers, jeopardizing continuity of care and patient safety. Conclusion: The study suggests that there is a need to improve managerial support, communication and error management to strengthen the patient safety culture in these hospitals.