A limited amount of data exists from developing and underdeveloped nations related to patient safety culture among diverse healthcare employees. This study aimed to identify baseline perceptions and attitudes towards patient safety across healthcare disciplines at two Egyptian hospitals using a validated survey tool to allow for comparison with international benchmarks. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 250 employees, who voluntarily completed the survey over a 14-day period. Results revealed that job satisfaction scored highest among the safety domains assessed and was significantly greater than the international benchmark. Job satisfaction was followed by teamwork climate, working conditions, safety climate, and perceptions of unit management and hospital management. All mean scores for these domains were significantly greater than the international benchmarks. In contrast, the mean score of stress recognition was significantly less than the international benchmark. Respondent demographics did not influence overall safety perception measured by the six domains; however, resident physicians perceived greater collaboration and communication among team members than other position types reported. Egyptian healthcare providers reported an overall positive perception of the culture of safety. However, recognition of the negative implications of stress on patient safety among Egyptians was lower than the international benchmark. Clinical Relevance: Our study provides insight into patient safety perceptions among diverse healthcare employees in a developing nation, establishes baseline data on safety culture at two hospitals, and offers a comparison between Egyptian healthcare workers' patient safety attitudes and international benchmarks.

INTRODUCTION:Understanding the current landscape of patient engagement across value decision-making bodies internationally is a critical first step toward improving the patient centricity of Health Technology Assessment (HTA). This study assessed: (i) Terms and definitions used; (ii) Patient engagement opportunities; (iii) Evidence of patient engagement.METHODS:A sample of country-specific HTA's (HTA; n = 6), professional organizations (PO; n = 4), and collaborations/independent organizations (CO; n = 3) was selected for representativeness. Information was gathered through: (i) targeted web search and (ii) emailing organizations directly. Definitions, HTA methods documents, and the three most recent evaluations were identified, abstracted, and compared. Data were collected between September-October 2016.RESULTS:Numerous terms are used to describe patient engagement: patient input (HTA = 1, PO = 1), patient-group submitted information (HTA = 1), cooperation with patients/users (HTA = 1), public consultation (HTA = 1), patient perspectives (HTA = 1, PO = 1), involvement of people affected (HTA = 1), patient involvement (HTA = 2), patient and public involvement (HTA = 1), lay involvement (HTA = 1), inclusion of patient representative (PO = 3), patient reports (PO = 1), patient preference (PO = 2), public consultation (CO = 1), stakeholder consultation (CO = 1), open input (CO = 1), stakeholder engagement (CO = 1), and patient participation (CO = 1). Opportunities for patient engagement were described as: patient questionnaire (HTA = 2); comment period (HTA = 1; CO = 1); committee participation (HTA = 3; PO = 3); propose topics (HTA = 1); draft guidance (HTA = 1); general stakeholder forum (CO = 1). While organizations outline opportunities for patient engagement, not all organizations have clear evidence the practices are used or have impact. Recent evaluations demonstrate clear evidence of engagement (HTA = 2); Unclear or mixed evidence (HTA = 1; PO = 1; CO = 2); No evidence (HTA = 3; PO = 3; CO = 1).CONCLUSIONS:There is substantial heterogeneity in the terms used to describe patient engagement activities across organizations. While a variety of opportunities for patient engagement are described, lack of clear evidence to how patient engagement practices are consistently used may contribute to the perception that engagement by HTAs.