Attachment E: Nursing Home Survey Data File Specifications

AHRQ Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture Data File Layout

AHRQ
Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture
Survey Data File Specifications

Version 2

Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture Data File Layout

AHRQ Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture
Survey Data File Specifications
These specifications are for preparing your respondent-level data from the Nursing Home Survey
on Patient Safety Culture. The instructions below tell you how to prepare your Excel data file for
submission to the Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture Comparative Database.
INSTRUCTIONS (Excel File Only):
Step 1: Include a header row with the variable name for each column.
Step 2: Submit individual survey response data using the response values indicated in this
document (beginning on page 4).
Step 3: Check your data before submitting for the following things:
•

OUT-OF-RANGE VALUES
You should clean your data before submitting to the database to ensure that there are no
out-of-range values and that the data submitted are free from error. Make sure all response
values match the response value for the question.

•

REVERSE CODED ITEMS
Do not submit reverse coded data on the survey’s negatively worded items—simply submit
each individual’s unmodified responses to the survey items.
For example, survey item A6, “Staff use shortcuts to get their work done faster” is
negatively worded. Regardless, the data should be submitted so that 1=Strongly disagree
and 5=Strongly agree, as originally indicated in the survey, as follows:
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9= Does Not Apply or Don’t Know

•

JOB TITLES/WORK AREAS
If your hospital modified or added new job title (F1) or work area (F7) categories, you
MUST RECODE your specific job title/work areas back to the survey’s original job
title/work area categories. If you added job titles/work areas that do not match any of the
survey’s original job titles/work areas, re-code your specific job titles/work areas as
“OTHER” (F1 = “I”, F7 = “E”), before submitting your data.

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Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture Data File Layout
•

OTHER, PLEASE SPECIFY TEXT
Do not include Other-Please Specify data (questions F1 and F7, and Section G). While you
may find it useful to review this text, it should not be submitted to the Database.

•

SPANISH VERSION OF THE SURVEY
Please indicate which respondents (if any) completed a Spanish or other language version of
the safety culture survey, if you have this information available. You should do so by adding
an ‘S’ (for Spanish) or “N” (for other language) to the Individual Unique Record ID
(UNIQUEID) e.g. 001S, 002N

•

OTHER LANGUAGE VERSION OF THE SURVEY
Please indicate which respondents (if any) completed the safety culture survey in a language
that was not English or Spanish, if you have this information available. You should do so by
adding an ‘N’ to the Individual Unique Record ID (UNIQUEID), e.g. 001N.

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AHRQ Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture Data File Layout – EXCEL
Variable
Column
Survey Question
Response Values
Name
Position
Record Identifier

Site ID

SITEID

Column A

Individual Unique Record ID

UNIQUEID

Column B

If you are submitting data for
multiple nursing homes, then
each site should have a unique
Site ID. If you have data for
only one nursing home, then its
Site ID can be 1.
Each individual record in the
dataset should have a unique ID,
e.g. 001, 002, 003. NOTE: If an
individual completed a Spanish
survey, add an ‘S’ at the end of
the Record ID, e.g. 001S.

SECTION A: Working in This Nursing Home
1. Staff in this nursing home
treat each other with
respect

A1

Column C

2. Staff support one another
in this nursing home

A2

Column D

3. We have enough staff to
handle the workload

A3

Column E

4. Staff follow standard
procedures to care for
residents

A4

Column F

5. Staff feel like they are
part of a team

A5

Column G

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1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know

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AHRQ Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture Data File Layout – EXCEL
Variable
Column
Survey Question
Response Values
Name
Position

6. Staff use shortcuts to get
their work done faster

A6

Column H

7. Staff get the training they
need in this nursing home

A7

Column I

8. Staff have to hurry because
they have too much work
to do

A8

Column J

9. When someone gets really
busy in this nursing home,
other staff help out

A9

Column K

10. Staff are blamed when a
resident is harmed

A10

Column L

11. Staff have enough training
on how to handle difficult
residents

A11

Column M

12. Staff are afraid to report
their mistakes

A12

Column N

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1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know

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AHRQ Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture Data File Layout – EXCEL
Variable
Column
Survey Question
Response Values
Name
Position

13. Staff understand the
training they get in this
nursing home

A13

Column O

14. To make work easier, staff
often ignore procedures

A14

Column P

15. Staff are treated fairly
when they make mistakes

A15

Column Q

16. Residents’ needs are met
during shift changes

A16

Column R

17. It is hard to keep residents
safe here because so many
staff quit their jobs

A17

Column S

18. Staff feel safe reporting
their mistakes

A18

Column T

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1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know

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AHRQ Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture Data File Layout – EXCEL
Variable
Column
Survey Question
Response Values
Name
Position
SECTION B: Communications
1. Staff are told what they
need to know before taking
care of a resident for the
first time

B1

Column U

2. Staff are told right away
when there is a change in a
resident’s care plan

B2

Column V

3. We have all the
information we need when
residents are transferred
from the hospital

B3

Column W

4. When staff report
something that could harm
a resident, someone takes
care of it

B4

Column X

5. In this nursing home, we
talk about ways to keep
incidents from happening
again

B5

Column Y

6. Staff tell someone if they
see something that might
harm a resident

B6

Column Z

7. Staff ideas and suggestions
are valued in this nursing
home

B7

Column AA

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1=Never
2=Rarely
3=Sometimes
4=Most of the time
5=Always
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Never
2=Rarely
3=Sometimes
4=Most of the time
5=Always
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Never
2=Rarely
3=Sometimes
4=Most of the time
5=Always
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Never
2=Rarely
3=Sometimes
4=Most of the time
5=Always
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Never
2=Rarely
3=Sometimes
4=Most of the time
5=Always
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Never
2=Rarely
3=Sometimes
4=Most of the time
5=Always
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Never
2=Rarely
3=Sometimes
4=Most of the time
5=Always
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know

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AHRQ Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture Data File Layout – EXCEL
Variable
Column
Survey Question
Response Values
Name
Position

8. In this nursing home, we
discuss ways to keep
residents safe from harm

B8

Column AB

9. Staff opinions are ignored
in this nursing home

B9

Column AC

10. Staff are given all the
information they need to
care for residents

B10

Column AD

11. It is easy for staff to speak
up about problems in this
nursing home

B11

Column AE

1=Never
2=Rarely
3=Sometimes
4=Most of the time
5=Always
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Never
2=Rarely
3=Sometimes
4=Most of the time
5=Always
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Never
2=Rarely
3=Sometimes
4=Most of the time
5=Always
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Never
2=Rarely
3=Sometimes
4=Most of the time
5=Always
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know

SECTION C: Your Supervisor
1. My supervisor listens to
staff ideas and suggestions
about resident safety

C1

Column AF

2. My supervisor says a good
word to staff who follow
the right procedures

C2

Column AG

3. My supervisor pays
attention to resident safety
problems in this nursing
home

C3

Column AH

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1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know

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AHRQ Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture Data File Layout – EXCEL
Variable
Column
Survey Question
Response Values
Name
Position
SECTION D: Your Nursing Home
1. Residents are well cared
for in this nursing home

D1

Column AI

2. Management asks staff
how the nursing home can
improve resident safety

D2

Column AJ

3. This nursing home lets the
same mistakes happen
again and again

D3

Column AK

4. It is easy to make changes
to improve resident safety
in this nursing home

D4

Column AL

5. This nursing home is
always doing things to
improve resident safety

D5

Column AM

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1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know

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AHRQ Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture Data File Layout – EXCEL
Variable
Column
Survey Question
Response Values
Name
Position

6. This nursing home does a
good job keeping residents
safe

D6

Column AN

7. Management listens to
staff ideas and suggestions
to improve resident safety

D7

Column AO

8. This nursing home is a
safe place for residents

D8

Column AP

9. Management often walks
around the nursing home
to check on resident care

D9

Column AQ

10. When this nursing home
makes changes to improve
resident safety, it checks to
see if the changes worked

D10

Column AR

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1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know
1=Strongly Disagree
2=Disagree
3=Neither Agree nor Disagree
4=Agree
5=Strongly Agree
9=Does Not Apply or Don’t Know

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AHRQ Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture Data File Layout – EXCEL
Variable
Column
Survey Question
Response Values
Name
Position
SECTION E: Overall Rating
1. I would tell friends that
this is a safe nursing home
for their family

E1

Column AS

2. Please give this nursing
home an overall rating on
resident safety

E2

Column AT

A=Yes
B=Maybe
C=No
1=Poor
2=Fair
3=Good
4=Very Good
5=Excellent

SECTION F: Background Information
A=Administrator/Manager
B=Physician (MD, DO)
C=Other Provider
D=Licensed Nurse
E=Nursing Assistant/Aide
1. What is your job in this
F1
Column AU
F=Direct Care Staff
nursing home?
G=Administrative Support Staff
H=Support Staff
I=Other (Please write the title of
your job)
*
TEXT FOR OTHER, PLEASE SPECIFY [F1, item i] - DO NOT SUBMIT TO DATABASE
A=Less than 2 months
B=2 to 11 months
2. How long have you
C=1 to 2 years
worked in this nursing
F2
Column AV
D=3 to 5 years
home?
E=6 to 10 years
F=11 years or more
A=15 or fewer hours per week
3. How many hours per week
B=16 to 24 hours per week
do you usually work in this
F3
Column AW
C=25 to 40 hours per week
nursing home?
D=More than 40 hours per week
A=Days
4. When do you work most
F4
Column AX B=Evenings
often?
C=Nights
5. Are you paid by a staffing
A=Yes
agency when you work for
F5
Column AY B=No
this nursing home?
6. In your job in this nursing
A=YES, I work directly with
home, do you work
residents most of the time
F6
Column AZ
directly with residents
B=NO, I do NOT work directly with
most of the time?
residents most of the time

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AHRQ Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture Data File Layout – EXCEL
Variable
Column
Survey Question
Response Values
Name
Position
A=Many different areas or units in
this nursing home/No specific area or
unit
7. In this nursing home,
where do you spend most
F7
Column BA B=Alzheimer’s / Dementia unit
of your time working?
C=Rehab unit
D=Skilled nursing unit
E=Other area or unit (Please specify)
TEXT FOR OTHER, PLEASE SPECIFY [F7, item e]* - DO NOT SUBMIT TO DATABASE
SECTION G: Your Comments
*

Please feel free to write any comments about resident care and safety in this nursing home - DO NOT
SUBMIT TO DATABASE
*

DO NOT SUBMIT OTHER SPECIFY TEXT OR TEXT ON COMMENTS TO THE
DATABASE (ITEMS IN SHADED ROWS)

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