This study aimed to investigate the levels of perception of, knowledge of, and attitude toward patient safety and identify factors that affected patients’ attitude towards patient safety. In this descriptive study, participants included 196 patients hospitalized at a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires. Perception of and attitude towards patient safety were measure with a tool developed by Ahn Jin-ok, and the questionnaire for knowledge of patient safety was developed by researchers based on a literature review and validated by an expert group. Data were analyzed with Pearson’s correlation coefficients and multiple regression. The average perception of patient safety was 35.48(±6.80) out of 50; the average knowledge of patient safety was 84.33(±8.66) out of 100; and the average attitude towards patient safety was 36.88(±3.74) out of 50. The perception and knowledge of patient safety, level of hospital safety, and age were identified as influential factors explaining 13% of the variation in attitude towards patient safety. The results showed that the direct and indirect educational experience of patients may increase their perception and knowledge of patient safety that can influence their attitude towards patient safety. Therefore, patient education would be an important intervention to improve patients’ attitude towards patient safety. We recommend further studies with educational interventions for improving patient safety activities.

While the reduction of industrial accidents has been stagnant, many researchers have been studying and focusing on safety behaviors including safety perception, attitude and safety culture as a new solution as well as a turning-point of this issue. However, we do not pay attention to those studies and researches in Korean construction. Therefore, this study is to introduce preceding researches and case studies in other countries and suggest a new direction to Korean construction. This study found out the current situation and problems in Korean construction studies after tracing the safety perception, attitude and safety culture in Korea and reviewing the background and trend of overseas studies and researches with regard to safety behaviors. Fundamental researches and systematic studies must be conducted in Korean construction with the reference and research data of this study.