The Effect of psychological safety on quality of healthcare services by health workers in Kitale County Referral Hospital
Date
2021
Authors
Ouma, Edward Ochieng
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Healthcare organizations operate in a dynamic, complex industry full of high demands and accountability with an aim to deliver services to the patient and the stakeholders at large. It hence needs a collaborative approach in carrying out its mandate, meaning individual, team dynamics and its organizational climate comes into play. When quality is critical and effective safe patient care is warranted, then performance comes to play. As a result, health organizations that tend to enhance an environment that facilitates faster learning, creativity, and innovation tend to have a better chance of success. Where an individual can air their opinion without fear of repercussion, take interpersonal risk without fear of retribution as long as it intends to meet or even further the organizational goals. These, as a result, lead to increased patient safety due to no fear of reporting medical errors, enhanced team cohesion, innovative solutions to emerging challenges. However, information concerning, the role of psychological safety on quality of health in Kenya is scanty. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of psychological safety of healthcare workers on the provision of quality healthcare in Kitale County referral hospital. The research was underpinned by the theories of conservation of resources, trait activation, and social exchange. The study applied quota and convenience sampling techniques as well as a cross-sectional descriptive design. Primary data was collected through structured questionnaires. Data collected was analyzed by both correlation analysis and multiple regression via SPSS. Results showed that team psychological safety had non-significant relationship with quality of healthcare(p-value>0.05) while both the individual (p-value=0.044) and organization (p-value<0.001) psychological safety have significant relationship with quality of healthcare. These results conclude that individual and organizational psychological safety contributes to improvement in healthcare quality in Kitale county referral hospital. The study recommends that county governments and management of public hospitals should improve individual, team and organizational psychological safety as a way of driving creativity and innovation in enhancing healthcare quality.
Description
A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management at Strathmore University
Keywords
Psychological safety, Healthcare services, Health workers, Kitale County Referral Hospital