Background and Aim: In recent years, active patient participation in healthcare has been increasingly recognized as a vital component in health policies aimed at achieving optimal health outcomes. This study aims to identify the contexts and areas in which patients engage in safety-related measures within healthcare settings.
Materials and Methods: A scoping review of the English-language literature published from 2000 to 2021 was performed. The search strategy involved relevant keywords, including MeSH modifications, as well as common terms associated with the topic, such as patient collaboration, patient participation, patient engagement, patient involvement, patient education, and patient safety. Literature was sourced from the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases. The research design adhered to the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley, and data analysis was conducted using a content analysis approach.
Results: The search strategy yielded a total of 2,951 articles, of which 38 articles met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies originated from the United States (14), the United Kingdom (8), and Australia (6). The publication years with the highest output were 2015 (5 articles) and 2017 (4 articles). Five key areas of patient participation were identified: fall prevention, prevention of drug interactions, medical error prevention and awareness, participation in infection control and staff hand hygiene, and educational initiatives. The articles identified focused on various areas, including participation in fall prevention (26.3%), education and awareness promotion, participation in infection control and hand hygiene (23.6%), prevention and awareness of medical errors (18.4%), and prevention of drug interactions (7.9%).The main findings of the reviewed studies were categorized into four areas: patient participation, methods of patient participation, examples and outcomes of patient participation, and challenges associated with patient participation in safety-related measures.
Conclusion: Promoting patient involvement in safety-related practices within healthcare is essential for bolstering patient safety. Such participation is contingent upon empowering patients by improving their health literacy and knowledge while simultaneously fostering a shift in the attitudes of healthcare providers. The involvement of policymakers, particularly at the levels of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, is critical in advancing patient and family participation in national hospital accreditation standards and facilitating broader initiatives aimed at transitioning the health system towards a model of participatory care.
