A Qualitative Study on the Use of the Hospital Safety Index and the Formulation of Recommendations for Future Adaptations

Bibliographic Data

ID15512634
AuthorsHamdi Lamine (0000-0001-5603-083X, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, corresponding author), Alessandro Lamberti-Castronuovo (0000-0001-7079-4457, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”), Prinka Singh (0009-0007-0204-8170, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”), Naoufel Chebili (Hôpital Sahloul), Chekib Zedini (University of Sousse), Nebil Achour (0000-0002-0791-1216, Anglia Ruskin University), Martina Valente (0000-0002-8599-2162, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”), Luca Ragazzoni (0000-0002-2528-4375, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”)
Year2023
Volume20
Issue6
Pages4985-4985
Publication date2023-03-12
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph20064985
PMID36981894
OpenAlexW4324065002
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited25

The Hospital Safety Index is a tool developed by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization in 2008 and updated in 2015. Although it is the most widely used instrument of its kind to assess the level of hospital preparedness, scientific literature on its application in real life is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the use of the Hospital Safety Index to assess disaster preparedness in healthcare facilities. A retrospective, qualitative study employing semi-structured online interviews was conducted to gather the opinions and perspectives of professionals who have experience in applying the Hospital Safety Index. Authors of scientific publications using the Hospital Safety Index were recruited. A semi-structured interview guide was developed. It addressed different phases of data collection with the Hospital Safety Index, the challenges and facilitators of using it, and recommendations for future adaptations. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Nine participants who were from three countries (Serbia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia) and had different professional backgrounds (medical doctors, engineers, spatial planners, etc.) participated in this study. A total of 5 themes and 15 subthemes emerged during data analysis. Most of the participants reported their reasons for choosing the Hospital Safety Index as being its comprehensiveness and the fact that it was issued by the World Health Organization. The tool appears to be very specific and allows investigators to spot details in hospitals; however, it is not easy to use, and training is highly encouraged to learn how to navigate the different components of the tool. Governmental support is a crucial facilitator for investigators to be able to enter hospitals and conduct their evaluations. Overall, the tool has a lot of potential, and it should be used to reach a broader audience, such as community members, and assess the preparedness of other facilities that can take part in the response to disasters (hotels, stadiums, schools, etc.). Nevertheless, it still needs more adaptations to be tailored to different contexts and settings

Data collection · Family medicine · Health care · Index (typography · Management · Medical education · Medical emergency · Occupational safety and health · Patient safety · Political science · Preparedness · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Computer Science · Disaster Response and Management · Healthcare Policy and Management · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology

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