Table 2

Recognition of importance of participation, extent of willingness to participate and experience of participation in patient safety activities (n=492)

Patient participation practicesEngaging in healthcare behavioursFrequency of participation
Recognition of importanceExtent of willingnessExperience of participationAlwaysOftenSometimesNot at all
M±SDN (%)
Seeking a second opinion regarding an important healthcare decision3.23±0.712.70±0.972.07±0.8938 (7.7)98 (19.9)217 (44.1)139 (28.3)
Asking healthcare workers to explain more fully something they just said that I do not understand3.47±0.653.19±0.802.58±0.8473 (14.8)177 (36.0)202 (41.1)40 (8.1)
Bringing a friend or family member to a doctor’s appointment so that they can help ask questions and understand what the doctor was telling me2.73±0.842.19±0.901.84±0.8625 (5.1)75 (15.2)187 (38.0)205 (41.7)
Asking healthcare workers if they washed their hands2.96±0.841.43±0.761.37±0.7413 (2.7)39 (7.9)64 (13.0)376 (76.4)
Telling healthcare workers about any drug allergies when they did not ask for this information3.55±0.693.08±1.022.22±1.1082 (16.7)118 (24.0)118 (24.0)174 (35.3)
Asking healthcare workers to confirm your identity before performing a procedure3.20±0.842.05±1.021.64±0.9431 (6.3)65 (13.2)91 (18.5)305 (62.0)
Asking healthcare workers about the details of a procedure and the reason for a procedure before it is performed3.55±0.673.31±0.822.88±0.95150 (30.5)178 (36.2)120 (24.4)44 (8.9)
Asking healthcare workers to explain care, such as an X-ray or drawing blood, that I was not told about by my doctor or nurse3.43±0.722.86±0.952.50±1.04108 (22.0)125 (25.4)164 (33.3)95 (19.3)
Calling a healthcare worker when I undergo medical tests ordered and no one calls me with the results3.40±0.703.29±0.832.50±1.10117 (23.8)129 (26.2)127 (25.8)119 (24.2)
Taking a written list of all the medications I’m currently taking when going to the doctor3.22±0.802.34±1.072.02±1.0355 (11.2)102 (20.7)132 (26.8)203 (41.3)
Questioning medications or pills if I did not recognise them and never took this medication in the past3.33±0.772.82±0.982.35±1.0585 (17.3)131 (26.6)149 (30.3)127 (25.8)
Checking that I received the right drug and strength before leaving the pharmacy3.22±0.812.30±1.102.09±1.0976 (15.5)86 (17.5)134 (27.2)196 (39.8)
Reporting the errors I noticed had occurred in the hospital to a national reporting system3.20±0.802.51±0.961.70±0.9940 (8.1)71 (14.4)84 (17.1)297 (60.4)
Total3.27±0.512.62±0.522.13±0.63