Perspectives of speech-language therapists on patient safety incidents in South Africa

Background: Patient safety incidents (PSIs) cause harm to patients, including falls, accidental ingestion and physical assault. Despite their importance in healthcare, limited information exists on how South African speech-language therapists (SLTs) perceive them in the public and private sectors. T...

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Main Authors: Ntandoyenkosi L. Msomi, Suvishka Barath, Andrew J. Ross
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2025-02-01
Series:South African Family Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6071
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author Ntandoyenkosi L. Msomi
Suvishka Barath
Andrew J. Ross
author_facet Ntandoyenkosi L. Msomi
Suvishka Barath
Andrew J. Ross
author_sort Ntandoyenkosi L. Msomi
collection DOAJ
description Background: Patient safety incidents (PSIs) cause harm to patients, including falls, accidental ingestion and physical assault. Despite their importance in healthcare, limited information exists on how South African speech-language therapists (SLTs) perceive them in the public and private sectors. This study applied the Donabedian model of patient safety and healthcare quality to SLTs’ perspectives on PSIs. Methods: Free attitude interviews with 10 South African SLTs explored the environment (where and who), processes (how and why) and outcomes (events and consequences) of PSIs. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically using a six-phase deductive and inductive approach within the Donabedian model. Results: The Donabedian model’s three components (structure, process, outcome) led to six sub-themes, highlighting its applicability to SLTs’ perspectives on PSIs. It revealed how factors such as clinical environment, care delivery and patient outcomes influence SLTs’ perceptions. Conclusion: Understanding SLTs’ perspectives is essential for addressing environmental issues, developing training, institutional inductions and audits that prevent and manage PSIs, and improving service quality. Contribution: This study emphasises engaging practitioners to understand factors affecting PSIs. It contributes to improving SLT training and practice in South Africa to enhance patient safety.
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publishDate 2025-02-01
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series South African Family Practice
spelling doaj-art-59c4b062b80a4ebbad7e4c09291437022025-08-20T03:06:52ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042025-02-01671e1e610.4102/safp.v67i1.60714919Perspectives of speech-language therapists on patient safety incidents in South AfricaNtandoyenkosi L. Msomi0Suvishka Barath1Andrew J. Ross2Department of Family Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbaDepartment of Family Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanDepartment of Family Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanBackground: Patient safety incidents (PSIs) cause harm to patients, including falls, accidental ingestion and physical assault. Despite their importance in healthcare, limited information exists on how South African speech-language therapists (SLTs) perceive them in the public and private sectors. This study applied the Donabedian model of patient safety and healthcare quality to SLTs’ perspectives on PSIs. Methods: Free attitude interviews with 10 South African SLTs explored the environment (where and who), processes (how and why) and outcomes (events and consequences) of PSIs. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically using a six-phase deductive and inductive approach within the Donabedian model. Results: The Donabedian model’s three components (structure, process, outcome) led to six sub-themes, highlighting its applicability to SLTs’ perspectives on PSIs. It revealed how factors such as clinical environment, care delivery and patient outcomes influence SLTs’ perceptions. Conclusion: Understanding SLTs’ perspectives is essential for addressing environmental issues, developing training, institutional inductions and audits that prevent and manage PSIs, and improving service quality. Contribution: This study emphasises engaging practitioners to understand factors affecting PSIs. It contributes to improving SLT training and practice in South Africa to enhance patient safety.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6071speech-language therapistpatient safety incidentthematic analysisrehabilitation professions educationsouth africa
spellingShingle Ntandoyenkosi L. Msomi
Suvishka Barath
Andrew J. Ross
Perspectives of speech-language therapists on patient safety incidents in South Africa
South African Family Practice
speech-language therapist
patient safety incident
thematic analysis
rehabilitation professions education
south africa
title Perspectives of speech-language therapists on patient safety incidents in South Africa
title_full Perspectives of speech-language therapists on patient safety incidents in South Africa
title_fullStr Perspectives of speech-language therapists on patient safety incidents in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Perspectives of speech-language therapists on patient safety incidents in South Africa
title_short Perspectives of speech-language therapists on patient safety incidents in South Africa
title_sort perspectives of speech language therapists on patient safety incidents in south africa
topic speech-language therapist
patient safety incident
thematic analysis
rehabilitation professions education
south africa
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6071
work_keys_str_mv AT ntandoyenkosilmsomi perspectivesofspeechlanguagetherapistsonpatientsafetyincidentsinsouthafrica
AT suvishkabarath perspectivesofspeechlanguagetherapistsonpatientsafetyincidentsinsouthafrica
AT andrewjross perspectivesofspeechlanguagetherapistsonpatientsafetyincidentsinsouthafrica