Safety Culture Survey Data Analysis

I have worked extensively with all of the major culture survey instruments in healthcare, including:

  • SAQ (Safety Attitudes Questionnaire), proprietary to Pascal Metrics, Washington DC;
  • AHRQ HSOPS and MOSOPS (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital/Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety), available for public use; and
  • SCORE (Safety, Communication, Operational Reliability, and Engagement), proprietary to Safe & Reliable Healthcare, Evergreen CO; and
  • Press Ganey’s Workforce and Engagement Surveys, proprietary to Press Ganey, South Bend, IN.

All of these instruments are well-validated and have their strengths and weaknesses. What is most important is a good sample size, surveying at the unit/work setting level, and a having strategy for analyzing the data, sharing it, and, especially, acting upon it.

I can help you develop a roadmap for success across the continuum of survey administration – from the importance of correctly ‘mapping’ respondents prior to survey administration to analysis of the quantitative and qualitative results and how to use that data to improve the culture in your organization.

Pre-Survey Assistance

I can advise you on the best way for your organization to administer a survey, how to map respondents for the most accurate and powerful insights, and also provide strategies for building staff enthusiasm for taking the survey and achieving an adequate response rate.

Post-Survey Assistance

Once a survey is complete and the data comes back, it is not unusual to be a bit overwhelmed – what does it all mean and where to even start?! Let me provide guidance about key metrics to look at and themes to look for in both the quantitative and qualitative data, where to focus initial efforts, and how to disseminate results and engage staff.

Sharing and acting on both the quantitative and qualitative data is a way for the organization to say “We heard you.” If you ask someone for their opinion and they don’t perceive that anything has been done, they are likely to have either a less positive perception on the next survey or they won’t bother to take it again. Too often, the survey results are not shared at all or are posted on a bulletin board or intranet, with the expectation that staff will seek out the data themselves (and understand what it means!).  I can provide guidance on what should be shared with different levels of staff and expectations for how the survey data should be used.