Patient and Family Perspectives on Patient Safety at Primary Healthcare: A Scoping Review

Patient safety is critical in primary healthcare (PHC) due to its complex and dynamic nature. An estimation of 4 in 10 patients experience harm in primary and ambulatory care, with up to 80% being preventable. Despite extensive research on provider perspectives, patient and family insights, which are crucial for enhancing safety practices, remain underexplored. This scoping review examines existing literature on patients’ and families’ perspectives regarding patient safety in PHC settings. Following the enhanced Arksey and O’Malley framework together with PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science in November 2024. Peer-reviewed primary data articles addressing patient and family perspectives on PHC safety were included, with no language restrictions applied. A thematic analysis identified recurring themes across the findings. A total of 17 studies from diverse geographic regions and methodologies were included in this review. Five key themes emerged: (i) patient involvement (12 articles), highlighting the role of active participation in care; (ii) communication (10 articles), emphasising effective information exchange; (iii) continuity of care and coordination (8 articles), reflecting the need for seamless transitions in care; (iv) safety incidents and reporting (5 articles), addressing challenges in identifying and learning from patients’ adverse events; and (v) systemic issues (5 articles), revealing organisational factors impacting patient safety. Understanding patient and family perspectives provides unique insights into PHC safety challenges. The results underscore the necessity for proactive involvement of patient and family, effective communication and seamlessly coordinated care to enhance PHC safety. Establishing transparent feedback systems and systemic improvements can foster safety enhancement in PHC settings. Incorporating these viewpoints into safety strategies can foster a collaborative approach to healthcare improvement. Future research should explore tailored interventions to integrate these perspectives effectively.