Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for a new dynamic in the organization and practices of health services, as it required rapid restructuring to promote safe and harm-free assistance.
Objective: To assess the dimensions of the patient safety culture (PSC) from the perspective of the health team professionals in clinical-surgical ICU (G1) compared to a COVID-19 ICU (G2).
Methods: Cross-sectional, analytical, descriptive and inferential study, using the "Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture" questionnaire.
Results: The domain "Supervisor/Manager Expectations and Actions Promoting Patient Safety (PS)" was a potential weakness for G1 (p = 0.003). G2 was most positive on improving PS, being informed about errors, considering PS as a top priority to management, and that the units work together to provide the best care (p > 0.05). G1 was most negative about the work culture with staff from other units, exchange of information across units, and shift changes (p > 0.05). The highest PS grade was related to greater communication, and a smaller frequency of events was reported only for G2 (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: There must be a balance in terms of attention focused on PS between different ICUs in times of crisis, especially regarding the supervisors/managers actions.
Keywords: COVID-19; Patient safety; intensive care units; organizational culture.