Study: Culture of Safety Scores Have No Impact on Catheter Infections

Many hospitals have focused on improving the culture of safety in their institution through a patient safety culture survey provided to staff members.

But according to new research from the University of Michigan, the results on those surveys have little impact on reducing infections.

The study, which was published in May in BMJ: Quality and Safety, found no connection between safety culture scores and the rates of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI).

In the units studied, CLABSI rates decreased 47% and CAUTI rates decreased 23%, but there were only minor changes to the patient safety culture scores.

“We think this indicated it’s much more difficult to detect and measure safety culture than has been thought,” lead researcher Jennifer Meddings, MD,said in a press release about the study.

For more, here’s the study.