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The effects of patient education on patient safety: can we change patient perceptions and attitudes? Lessons from the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Korea

Objective
Strategies to promote patient involvement in medical error prevention have been implemented, but little is known about the effects of education on changes in perceptions and attitudes about patients' own safety.


Design
We administered a survey to military personnel admitted to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital. Responses were classified according to perception and attitude.


Setting
Single military hospital in Korea.


Participants
A total of 483 completed surveys were included in our study; 252 of the respondents received safety education at admission.


Methods
We provided educational program material to one-half of the patients at admission (intervention group). The other one-half of patients received no safety education (non-intervention group). We then performed two rounds of a self-administered survey, based on whether the patient received patient safety education. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to determine scale score reliability. Regression analysis was used to evaluate associations between education and change in scores.


Results
Scores for perception and attitude were greater in the intervention group. The results of the regression analysis revealed that compared with the non-intervention respondents, the respondents who received education had higher perception (estimate: 7.809, P < 0.0001) and attitude scores (estimate: 5.539, P < 0.0001).


Conclusion
Our study results suggested that patient education was associated with higher scores in both perception and attitudes about safety. To improve patient engagement in this area, efficient methods that encourage patient empowerment should be developed. Specialized health care providers who provide patient level education are needed to achieve a satisfactory patient safety climate.