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Biosafety and patient safety: the perspective of nursing teachers and students

Abstract

Objective

To identify the understanding of biosafety and patient safety from the perspective of nursing teachers and students in Brazil and Portugal.

Methods

This is a qualitative study involving 14 teachers and 44 students from 3 public educational institutions (2 in Brazil and 1 in Portugal). The study included students in their final year of high school as well as students enrolled in undergraduate and licensure courses because, by this stage of their studies, they had already covered topics related to biosafety and patient safety. It also included teachers of these subjects. Triangulation was used to collect data through interviews and observation. For organization and analysis, resources of the Atlas.ti 22 qualitative research software program were used in conjunction with the principles of thematic content analysis.

Results

It was evident in both countries that the teachers and students recognized the premises that involved biosafety and patient safety and that these should form part of nursing education in its transversality, emphasizing that biosafety and safety were interrelated in the prevention of adverse events. The importance of caring for oneself and others, the influence of the regulatory framework in guiding practice, and the existence of gaps in knowledge and practical application were all factors mentioned by the interviewees.

Conclusion

Biosafety and patient safety education and regulations, as well as the knowledge of teachers and students on these topics, affect safe practice and the quality of nursing care. Having a good understanding of these areas is therefore essential in health crises, especially for preventing infection, and it is important to raise awareness of the duty of safe health practices.

Education, nursing; Containment of biohazards; Health knowledge, attitudes, practice; Patient safety

Escola Paulista de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo R. Napoleão de Barros, 754, 04024-002 São Paulo - SP/Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 11) 5576 4430 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: actapaulista@unifesp.br