Objective: to analyze the safety culture in surgical units of a teaching hospital in different periods of hospital management. Method: this is a descriptive and analytical study developed with health professionals working at a surgical center and at five surgical inpatient units in two different periods of hospital management in southern Brazil. The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture questionnaire was answered by 73 professionals in period I (2014/2015) and by 158 professionals in period II (2017). The analysis was based on descriptive statistics and on inferential analysis and reliability analysis using Cronbach's alpha coefficient; the dimensions were considered strong when the percentage of positive answers was ≥75%. Results: the administrative transition had a positive influence on the “Staffing” and “Handoffs and transitions” dimensions and a negative influence on “Teamwork within units” (p<0.001), with no difference in the remaining nine dimensions. In both periods, no dimension was considered strong; there were no changes with regard to the notification of adverse events and to the overall safety assessment; and the overall reliability of the instrument was satisfactory (0.89). Conclusion: the administrative transition of hospital management had little impact on the dimensions of the organizational safety culture, and there are still challenges in the progressive development of this predictor of patient safety.

Objetivo: analisar a cultura de segurança em unidades cirúrgicas de três hospitais de ensino paranaenses. Método: survey, transversal, com coleta de dados realizada entre 2017 e 2018, em três hospitais com administração federal, estadual e privada. Utilizou-se o questionário Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, que analisa 12 dimensões da cultura de segurança; aquelas com índices ≥75% foram consideradas fortalecidas. Resultados: a dimensão “trabalho em equipe dentro das unidades” foi identificada como fortalecida no hospital privado (77,8%); nos demais, nenhuma dimensão mostrou cultura fortalecida. Os profissionais do hospital privado externaram, significativamente, percepção menos negativa em seis dimensões de cultura. Comparados aos profissionais médicos, a Enfermagem apresentou percepção mais positiva, com diferença significativa para quatro dimensões. Conclusão: a administração privada estimula a cultura de segurança, quando comparada à pública. As dimensões frágeis são expressivas em todos os segmentos de trabalhadores, tornando-se desafio para promover cultura positiva em unidades cirúrgicas de hospitais de ensino.