Does workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion prevent patient safety incidents: a double machine learning approach

Although workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have been recognized as essential components in healthcare organizations, robust empirical research is scarce on how workforce DEI influences patient safety outcomes, particularly concerning the boundary conditions that may moderate this relationship. This study analyzes a longitudinal dataset from 2017 to 2021 that includes DEI metrics, staff-reported patient safety incidents, and employee feedback on DEI from Glassdoor and Indeed for 120 NHS Trusts in England’s acute care sector. We examine workforce DEI through both its demographic and experiential dimensions to provide a comprehensive view. Employing a double machine learning approach, our findings indicate that a one-unit increase in workforce DEI scores is associated with a reduction of 8.108 patient safety incidents per 1000 admissions. Moreover, regions with greater patient racial diversity and healthcare organizations with lower complexity experience significantly greater benefits from DEI initiatives. This study provides healthcare policymakers and institutions with actionable insights to strategically tailor DEI initiatives and effectively improve patient safety.