Mashhad Razavi Hospital Razavi Journal of Medicine 3115-753X 14 3 2026 07 01 Unveiling the roadblocks: Explaining the Threatening Factors to Patient Safety in Hospitals Receiving COVID-19 Patients: A Qualitative Study 62 84 118626 10.30483/rjm.2026.254669.1439 EN Javad Moghri Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Department of Management Sciences and Health Economics, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Rasoul Raesi Department of Public Health, school of Health, Torbat Jam Faculty of Medical Sciences, Torbat Jam, Iran Razieh Jafari School of Health, Student research committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Fatemeh Kokabi Saghi Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Department of Management Sciences and Health Economics, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mehrsadat Mahdizadeh Department of public Health, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Abdollah Reihany Yassavoli Director of Akbar Educational, Research and Superspecialty Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Seyed Saeed Tabatabaee Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Department of Management Sciences and Health Economics, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Journal Article 2025 12 05 <strong>Background</strong>: With the COVID-19 outbreak, patient safety in hospitals has become a serious challenge. Identifying the factors threatening patient safety in this critical situation is crucial for improving the quality of healthcare services and reducing adverse outcomes.<br><br><strong>Objectives</strong>: To determine the factors threatening patient safety in hospitals that admit COVID-19 patients<br><br><strong>Methods</strong>: This qualitative study was conducted in hospitals in Iran that were receiving COVID-19 patients in 2023. 26 participants, including deputies, patient safety experts, nurses, head nurses, and nursing managers, were selected by purposive sampling until data saturation. The data were collected using a semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interview. A conventional content analysis approach was used for data analysis, and MAXQDA 2020 was used for data management.<br><br><strong>Results</strong>: The findings from the conventional content analysis showed that the factors threatening the safety of COVID-19 patients include four categories (factors related to the patient and disease, task-related factors, management factors, and organizational-infrastructural factors), 11 subcategories (factors related to the patient, factors related to the disease, communication factors with the patient, non-communication factors with the patient, medications and medical equipment, human resources, physical resources, planning and decision-making, supervision, maintaining human resources, processes and protocols), and 33 sub-subcategories.<br><br><strong>Discussion</strong>: The findings indicate the complexity of patient safety challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for comprehensive approaches to improve safety conditions in healthcare systems.<br><br><strong>Conclusion</strong>: These factors directly impact the quality of healthcare services and patient safety. Therefore, reforming policies and improving infrastructure are essential to promoting patient safety in critical care settings. https://journal.razavihospital.ir/article_118626_5c391ff840d187ad6cea830fc7fb714e.pdf