From Structure to Resilience: Positive Psychology as a Means to Improve the Quality of Healthcare

This paper discusses how positive psychology can improve healthcare safety and quality. It begins by arguing that despite multiple system interventions implemented during the ‘safety revolution’, healthcare has not improved as expected. Then, it introduces and defines the concept of personal resilience, demonstrating its potential to improve quality and safety. It presents empirical evidence identifying three resilience cognitive and behavioral coping strategies, skepticism, anticipation, and proactivity, along with their potential contribution to improved healthcare quality. The paper concludes with recommendations to improve patient safety and quality of care.