Table 6

Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) item descriptions

Item is reverse scored38Per cent of items missing dataMean (SD)Per cent agree (minimum agree–agree)Per cent disagree (minimum disagree– maximum disagree)
Teamwork climate (1–6)
1. It is easy for personnel in this hospital to ask questions when there is something that they do not understandNo1.34.13 (0.96)80.45 (41.67–100.00)7.41 (0.00–35.00)
2. I have the support I need from other personnel to care for patientsNo2.13.95 (0.99)74.28 (33.30–98.05)9.18 (0.00–42.86)
3. Nurse input is well received in this hospitalNo1.93.99 (1.05)73.42 (23.94–100.00)10.16 (0.00–54.94)
4. In this hospital, it is difficult to speak up if I perceive a problem with patient careYes2.22.45 (1.26)21.69 (0.00–51.00)59.87 (9.09–100.00)
5. Disagreements in this hospital are resolved appropriately (ie, not by who is right but by what is best for the patient)No1.83.57 (1.10)56.97 (22.75–85.24)18.24 (0.00–54.09)
6. The physicians and nurses here work together as a well-coordinated teamNo1.63.75 (1.07)68.42 (25.72–98.2)14.24 (0.00–53.12)
Safety climate (7–13)
7. The culture in this hospital makes it easy to learn from the errors of othersNo1.53.96 (1.01)71.45 (33.33–100.00)9.55 (0.00–33.33)
8. Medical errors are handled appropriately in this hospitalNo2.33.49 (1.06)51.08 (14.3–92.7)17.3 (0.00–57.14)
9. I know the proper channels to direct questions regarding patient safety in this hospitalNo1.63.84 (1.01)64.5 (24.00–100.00)9.45 (0.00–39.10)
10. I am encouraged by my colleagues to report any patient safety concerns I may haveNo1.54.05 (0.94)77.3 (48.60–100.00)7.15 (0.00–26.32)
11. I receive appropriate feedback about my performanceNo0.73.22 (1.23)46.48 (4.58–76.5)31.5 (0.00–75.00)
12. I would feel safe being treated here as a patientNo1.54.02 (1.04)74.99 (36.35–100.00)9.48 (0.00–42.67)
13. In this hospital, it is difficult to discuss errorsYes1.72.57 (1.13)20.15 (0.00–48.15)53.87 (20.84–92.7)
Job satisfaction (14–18)
14. This hospital is a good place to workNo0.73.75 (1.08)63.5 (4.55–100.00)13.54 (0.00–58.09)
15. I am proud to work at this hospitalNo0.93.72 (1.07)62.5 (15.00–100.00)10.8 (0.00–50.00)
16. Working in this hospital is like being part of a large familyNo0.73.12 (1.30)42.1 (0.00–93.55)33.4 (0.00–80.00)
17. Morale in this hospital area is highNo1.52.89 (1.25)38.72 (4.18–84.33)36.75 (0.00–76.25)
18. I like my jobNo0.24.38 (0.88)85.6 (62.1–100.00)4.63 (0.00–18.32)
Stress recognition (19–22)
19. When my workload becomes excessive, my performance is impairedNo1.53.79 (1.13)32.16 (27.57–100.00)34.9 (0.00–52.3)
20. I am more likely to make errors in tense or hostile situationsNo1.33.77 (1.16)46.5 (30.00–87.00)21.84 (0.00–50.00)
21. Fatigue impairs my performance during emergency situations (eg, emergency resuscitation, seizure)No3.43.00 (1.28)29.45 (5.78–79.15)46.84 (12.30–76.54)
22. I am less effective at work when fatiguedNo1.43.75 (1.03)25.69 (38.5–96.4)41.21 (0.00–30.00)
Perceptions of management (23–26)
23. The hospital management does not knowingly compromise the safety of patientsNo1.72.54 (1.27)49.2 (9.11–87.5)26.5 (4.89–90.45)
24. The hospital administration supports my daily effortsNo0.62.48 (1.75)64.5 (0.00–94.2)29.62 (0.00–100.00)
25. I receive adequate, timely information about events in the hospital that might affect my workNo1.73.21 (1.09)51.5 (12.00–74.8)22.1 (0.00–66.65)
26. The levels of staffing in this clinical area are sufficient to handle the number of patientsNo1.82.67 (1.33)53.54 (0.00–84.62)39.47 (4.21–96.45)
Working conditions (27–30)
27. All of the necessary information for diagnostic and therapeutic decisions is routinely available to meNo2.23.5 (1.07)58.64 (16.8–89.5)18.4 (0.00–68.45)
28. This hospital constructively addresses problem physicians and employeesNo1.92.89 (1.14)24.85 (0.00–82.33)35.45 (0.00–81.00)
29. Trainees in my discipline are adequately supervisedNo2.43.55 (1.19)58.64 (10.00–100.00)21.48 (0.00–64.50)
30. This hospital does a good job of training new personnelNo1.23.50 (1.19)57.46 (16.2–96.45)20.42 (0.00–61.4)