Peer Mentoring as a Strategy to Enhance Patient Safety Culture in Healthcare: A Systematic Review

Background: Patient safety culture is a fundamental component of quality healthcare, yet challenges remain in reducing errors and promoting safe practices. Peer mentoring has emerged as an innovative educational strategy that may strengthen patient safety culture by fostering collaboration, improving clinical competencies, and enhancing professional resilience. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Literature searches were performed in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, ProQuest, and ScienceDirect for articles published between 2020 and 2025. Keywords included peer mentoring , peer support , near-peer mentoring , patient safety culture , and nursing/healthcare education . Inclusion criteria were original studies evaluating peer mentoring interventions and outcomes related to patient safety culture. Data extraction and quality appraisal were carried out independently by two reviewers, with disagreements resolved by a third. Results: Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, mixed-method studies, and quality improvement initiatives. Findings consistently indicated that peer mentoring improved self-efficacy, patient safety knowledge, attitudes, and competence, while reducing clinical errors such as medication administration errors. Peer support programs also addressed psychosocial aspects, improving awareness of the second victim phenomenon and strengthening emotional resilience among clinicians. Technology-enhanced interventions, including flipped learning, gamification, and simulation-based training, amplified the benefits of peer mentoring by increasing engagement, self-directed learning, and satisfaction. Conclusion: Peer mentoring is an effective educational strategy to strengthen patient safety culture in both educational and clinical contexts. It enhances competencies, reduces errors, and fosters supportive professional environments. Integration of peer mentoring into nursing curricula and professional development programs is recommended. Future research should employ longitudinal, multi-center designs with standardized outcome measures to optimize implementation and sustainability.