Strategies for Improving the Implementation of Patient Safety-Friendly Hospital Standards in Iran: A Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

Introduction: The implementation of a set of patient safety standards in hospitals is part of the patient safety-friendly hospitals program. By putting these standards into practice, hospitals can be sure that patient safety is regarded as a high priority and that all staff members strive to achieve this aim. The purpose of this research was to investigate ways to enhance the implementation of patient safety-friendly hospital standards in Iranian hospitals. Methods: This study was conducted using a sequential explanatory mixed method. The strategies for improving patient safety-friendly hospital standards were first identified through the use of a qualitative study, and then they were approved or rejected by the experts through the use of the fuzzy Delphi method in two stages. Based on this, 20 interviews were conducted, and no interviews were excluded. Finally, 800 minutes of interviews were conducted virtually through the virtual classes of Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2022. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data. The existing data were categorized, and the dimensions, guiding principles, and constituent parts pertinent to the research topic were extracted using qualitative analysis software such as MaxQDA version 2020. Results: In this study, 30 main issues were identified as ways to improve the application of hospital standards that are patient safety-friendly; one issue was eliminated based on expert opinion, and 29 major issues were approved. Conclusion: To improve the quality of services provided and better implement patient safety standards in centers, the solutions presented in this study should be implemented and can be considered as an implementation model for evaluating mandatory patient safety standards. © 2026 The Author(s); Published by Kerman University of Medical Sciences.