RESUMO
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the patient safety culture in Korean nursing homes using the Nursing Home Survey Patient Safety Culture (NHS-PC), a valid tool, provided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and to compare the results with AHRQ data. METHODS: Administrators and staff (N=151) of six nursing homes in Seoul, Busan, Kyeonggi Province and Gyeongsangnam Province completed the survey in July, 2010. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, positive response rate, t-test, ANOVA, DUNCAN, Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: The total mean (SD) positive response rate for patient safety culture was not significantly different from the AHRQ data. For composite levels, the results of 'handoffs' were significantly higher, and the results of 'feedback and communication about incidents' and 'nonpunitive responses to mistakes' were significantly lower than the AHRQ data. CONCLUSION: More effective strategies related to nonpunitive responses to mistakes and management activities for patient safety are needed to improve patient safety culture in nursing homes.