본 연구는 접수부터 진료, 예방, 구강보건교육 및 상담, 병원관리 등 다양한 업무를 직접 수행하는 일부 농어촌 지역 치과병(의)원에 근무하는 임상 치과위생사를 대상으로 치과 내의 올바른 환자안전문화 형성을 위한 기초자료를 수집하고자 2017년 7월부터 8월까지 자기기입식 설문조사를 실시하였고, 설문작성이 미완성되거나 응답이 불분명한 자료를 제외한 총 512부의 설문지를 회수, 분석하였다. 설문 문항은 일반적 및 직무 관련 특성, 환자안전문화인식, 환자안전관리활동으로 구성하였다. 환자안전문화인식과 환자안전관리활동 측정 도구의 타당도를 알아보기 위해 상관행렬을 이용, 주축인자법을 이용한 탐색적 요인분석을 실시하였고, 측정 도구의 신뢰도를 알아보기 위하여 Cronbach’s α 방법을 이용하여 검증하였다. 안전에 대한 전반적인 인식에서 25~29세가 25세 미만보다 높았고, 부서 간의 팀워크에서는 25~29세, 30~39세가 25세 미만보다 높았다. 결혼여부는 직원배치에서 기혼이 미혼보다 높았고, 학력에서는 안전에 대한 전반적인 인식, 직속상관/관리자의 태도, 부서 간의 팀워크 모두 대졸이 고졸보다 높았다. 직위는 직속상관/관리자의 태도에서 팀원, 실장급이 기타보다 유의하게 높았고, 1주일 근무시간에서 직속상관/관리자의 태도는 20~39시간, 40~59시간이 60~79시간보다 높았으며, 직원배치는 20~39시간이 60~79시간 보다 높았다. 월평균 급여에서 부서 내 팀워크는 250만원 이상이 200만원 미만, 200~250만원 미만 보다 높았고, 안전에 대한 전반적인 인식, 부서 간의 팀워크에서는 250만원 이상이 200만원 미만 보다 높았다. 일반적 특성에 따른 환자안전관리활동에서 연령은 방사선 관리에서 40세 이상이 25세 미만 보다 높았고, 학력에서 진료전달체계, 안전보장체계, 감염관리, 방사선 관리 모두 대학교졸업이 전문대졸업 보다 높았다. 직무 특성에 따른 환자안전관리활동에서 직위는 감염관리에서 실장급이 팀장급보다 높았고, 월평균 급여는 안전보장체계에서 200~250만원 미만이 200만원 미만 보다 높았고, 방사선 관리에서 200~250만원 미만, 250만원 이상이 200만원 미만 보다 높았다. 이상의 결과 치과 내의 환자안전문화를 증진시키기 위해서는 구체적인 안전대책 수립, 안전교육의 실시, 안전관리 시스템 구축, 부서 내 원활한 의사소통의 활성화를 위한 노력이 필요하며 의료사고의 보고체계에 관한 인식을 개선시킬 수 있는 방안모색이 필요할 것으로 사료된다.
To collect basic data that could help create good patient safety culture within dental hospitals and clinics from clinical dental hygienists personally doing diverse types of service, including reception, treatment, prevention, oral health education and counseling, and hospital management, at dental hospitals (and clinics) in rural communities, a survey using self-administered questionnaires was performed from July to August 2017 and a total of 512 legitimate questionnaires were returned and analyzed. Questionnaires consisted of questions pertaining to general and job-related characteristics, patient safety culture awareness, and patient safety management activities. To investigate the validity of the patient safety culture perception and patient safety management activity measurement tool, exploratory factor analysis was performed using the correlation matrix and the principal factor method. Cronbach’s α method was used to examine the reliability of the measurement tools. The respondents aged 25-29 had higher levels of general awareness of safety than those aged <25; the respondents aged 25-29 and those aged 30-39 showed better inter-department teamwork than those aged <25. The respondents were more likely to be married than unmarried; the college graduates had higher levels of general awareness of safety, attitudes of an immediate supervisor/manager, and inter-department teamwork than the high school graduates. The team members and the chiefs had significantly higher levels of attitudes of an immediate supervisor/manager than the others; the respondents working 20-39 hours a week and those working 40-59 hours a week had higher levels of attitudes of an immediate supervisor/manager than those working 60-79 hours a week, and the respondents were more likely to work 20-39 hours than 60-79 hours a week. The respondents earning ≥2.5 million won a month showed better intra-department teamwork than those earning <2 million won or 2-<2.5 million won a month, and the respondents earning ≥2.5 million won a month had higher levels of general awareness of safety and inter-department teamwork than those earning <2 million won a month. As for patient safety management activity by the general characteristics, the respondents in charge of radiation control were more likely to be aged ≥40 than <25; those in charge of the treatment delivery system, the security system, infection control, and radiation control were more likely to be university graduates than college graduates. As for patient safety management activity by the job-related characteristics, the respondents in charge of infection control were more likely to be chiefs than team leaders; the respondents in charge of the security system were more likely to earn 2-<2.5 million won than <2 million won a month, and those in charge of radiation control were more likely to earn 2-<2.5 million won or ≥2.5 million won than <2 million won a month. On the basis of these results, it is necessary to make efforts to devise specific safety measures, provide safety education, build a safety management system, and activate good communication within departments and to develop a plan for improving awareness of the malpractice reporting system with the objective of improving patient safety culture within dental hospitals and clinics.