Exploring quality and patient safety competencies and competency frameworks: A scoping review

Clicks: 6
ID: 318200
2026
Free PDF
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal
Steady

Ranked #68 of 106 articles by views in International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Sign in to mint
Abstract
Abstract Background Sustaining quality and patient safety (QPS) is a global priority due to risks such as patient harm, poor experiences, inequity, and resource waste. Training and education in key competency areas can support continuous improvement and enhance workforce performance. Clearly defining core QPS competencies for healthcare staff is essential to ensure preparedness to provide quality, safe care. Competency frameworks provide structured support for training and curriculum development, with many developed globally as strategic initiatives, some using evidence-based approaches. However, there is no consensus on core competencies to promote quality and patient safety, definitions of relevant terms can vary, and evidence on framework effectiveness is mixed. To address this research gap, the objective of this review was to systematically explore and collate evidence to provide insight into the current landscape of QPS competencies and frameworks. Additionally, this review sought to identify how competencies and competency frameworks have been designed, developed, implemented and evaluated. Methods We searched for studies on QPS competencies and frameworks in PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library from Jan 2010 to April 2023. We also conducted grey literature searches on Google Scholar, Opengrey, and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). All studies that described QPS competencies and/or frameworks were included. Since the studies varied in type, a narrative approach was adopted to synthesise the included studies. Results Out of the initial 14,144 studies found, 118 were deemed relevant after thoroughly reviewing abstracts and full texts. Of these, 36 studies outlined specific QPS competency frameworks, while the remaining 82 studies assessed various QPS competencies across diverse contexts. Upon analysing data from all 118 studies, we identified 37 QPS topic areas and a variety of competency statements encompassing skills, knowledge, and behaviours deemed relevant for promoting QPS. The most frequent QPS topic areas included communication, patient safety culture, teamwork and collaboration, risk monitoring and management and patient-centred care. Conclusion The review has highlighted key insights into education and training related to QPS competencies. Core competency topic areas have been identified that are essential for workforce development and the promotion of quality and patient safety in healthcare settings. However, there is a gap in research on strategies to effectively implement and integrate QPS frameworks into practice, leading to insufficient evidence on translating these competencies into real-world application.
Reference Key
openalex_W7165521810 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Dimuthu Rathnayake, Sahar Hammoud, Veronica Hanlon, Louise Hendrick, Mary Browne, Gemma Moore, John Fitzsimons, Aoife De Brún
Journal International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/intqhc/mzag090
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzag090
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.