Comparing Attitudes toward Disclosing Medical Errors between Medical Students and Interns

Lee, Su Hyun; Shin, Young Hye; Kim, Sung Soo

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to compare attitudes toward disclosing medical errors between medical students and interns.
METHODS
The questionnaires were administrated to 164 medical students and interns. The questionnaires consist of 3 major concepts: knowledge, attitudes toward disclosure of medical error, barriers to the disclosure of medical error.
RESULTS
Interns (56.1%) took medical errors less seriously than medical students (74.8%). Medical students (75.6%) believed that patients would want to be informed of any kind of medical errors while Interns (46.3%) thought so. Medical students (83.1%) considered that serious medical errors should be disclosed to patients. On the contrary, only 46.3% of interns believed so. Medical students (16.3%) and interns (19.5%) believed disclosing medical error would increase patients trust in doctors. Both medical students and interns pointed out worries about malpractice suits as the biggest barrier to disclosing medical error.
CONCLUSION
The attitudes toward disclosing medical error between medical students and interns were significantly different in many aspects. Interns show more negative attitudes about disclosing medical errors than medical students. And they also take medical errors less seriously than medical students. In particular, the attitudes of the subjects in this study were greatly different from the results of a previous patients' attitudes study. These perspectives differences could work against achieving patient-centered care which is the upmost priority in the current trends in health care. The efforts to bridge these perspective gaps between patients and doctors should start from medical school by teaching medical students the importance of the disclosing medical errors.