Assessing the impact of nurses’ patient safety competencies on key performance indicators (KPIs) for patient safety outcomes at Tamale Teaching Hospital: the mediating role of leadership and barriers to competency development

• Published in: BMC Health Services Research
• Main Authors: Mudasir Mohammed Ibrahim, Fatima Abdul-Rahaman, Mohammed Sherif Sayibu, Dora Nyamekye Alhassan, Ruhaima Tunteya Awudu, Iddrisu Mohammed Sisala, Abubakari Wuni, Abdul-Malik Abdulai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2025-09-01
• Subjects: Nurses; Patient safety; Competency; Outcome; KPIs
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13384-3

Abstract Introduction Despite significant advancements in healthcare, patient safety remains a persistent global concern. Nurses’ competency in patient safety is essential for minimizing errors and improving key performance indicators (KPIs) related to patient outcomes. Aim This study assessed the impact of nurses’ patient safety competency (PSC) on KPIs for patient safety outcomes at Tamale Teaching Hospital. Methods A multi-method research design was employed, comprising quantitative data collected from 291 nurses using structured questionnaires and qualitative data from 10 in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics and AMOS, while qualitative data were analyzed using QDA Miner Lite. Results Majority of nurses (61.2%) demonstrated high PSC, with the highest scores recorded in professional characteristics (M = 3.04, SD = 0.74). PSC was significantly associated with age, educational level, work experience, rank, and prior exposure to quality and safety programs (p < 0.05). Among the KPIs, medication safety recorded the highest performance (M = 3.82, SD = 0.86). Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that nurses’ PSC significantly predicted KPIs for patient safety outcomes (β = 0.628, p < 0.001), with the leadership role in patient safety partially mediating this relationship (β = 0.218, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings identified key barriers to PSC development, including inadequate integration of patient safety into nursing education, lack of training and standardized protocols, limited career advancement opportunities, and limited scope of practice. Conclusion Strengthening nurses’ patient safety competencies and addressing barriers are essential strategies for improving patient safety outcomes, particularly in resource-constrained healthcare settings.