Working hours and perceived workload interfere with the safety culture of primary care

Abstract

bjective  To verify the association between working hours, perceived workload, and safety culture among Primary Care professionals.

Methods  Survey-type research, carried out between January and July 2023, with Primary Care professionals (n = 355) from a capital city in the Central-West of Brazil. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Task Load Index was applied to measure workload and the Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture to assess safety culture. The data were subjected to statistical analysis.

Results  The 12 dimensions of the safety culture were evaluated as weak (< 75%), and 73.8% reported a high workload. A significant association was found between a higher prevalence of positive responses regarding the safety culture and a weekly workload of up to 40 hours in the dimensions “Management support for patient safety” and “Issues related to patient safety and quality” (p < 0.001). An association was also observed between a lower perceived workload and a better evaluation of the safety culture in the dimensions “Work process and standardization” (p = 0.01), “Management support for patient safety” (p = 0.03), and in the overall assessment of safety and quality.

Conclusion  Primary care professionals who worked fewer hours and perceived lower workload evaluated it more positively.

Workload; Patient Safety; Primary Health Care; Organizational Culture; Health Personnel; Occupacional Health