Effectiveness of the Positive Nursing Practice Environment Promotion Programme in improving patient safety in primary health care: a study protocol for a randomised controlled clinical trial.

Abstract

In the past decade, interest in researching nursing practice environments has increased considerably. Multiple studies have highlighted that substantial benefits result from enhancing these environments. A strong association has been established between the nursing practice environment and key factors such as professional satisfaction, safety climate, staff retention, and the quality and safety of care delivered. To evaluate the effectiveness of the Positive Nursing Practice Environment Promotion Programme (PPAPEP) in improving patient safety in primary health care. A randomised clinical trial will compare changes in nurses' perceptions of the safety climate and nursing practice environment in primary healthcare units. The sample will include at least 34 nurses participating in the programme and currently working in primary healthcare units. The sociodemographic and professional characteristics of the participants will be analysed, and stratified randomisation will be conducted. The intervention group will participate in the PPAPEP, consisting of six training sessions, each lasting 3 hours. The programme's goal is to empower nurses by providing knowledge about what constitutes a positive nursing practice environment and equipping them with tools to improve their practice environment. The outcomes of the intervention will be assessed both at the end of the programme and 3 months after its conclusion. We anticipate that this study will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of a capacity-building programme targeted at nurses and its impact on their perceptions regarding the safety climate and nursing practice environment.