J Korean Acad Nurs Adm.  2022 Sep;28(4):440-450. 10.11111/jkana.2022.28.4.440.

Factors Affecting Willingness to Medical Error-reporting of Nursing Students

• Kim E
• Yu J

• KMID: 2536052
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2022.28.4.440

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to identify factors affecting nursing students’ willingness to report medical errors.
Methods
A cross-sectional design was used, and 175 senior nursing students answered a web-based questionnaire that included ‘attitude and knowledge towards medical error reporting’, ‘ethical sensitivity’, ‘systems thinking’, and ‘willingness to report medical errors’. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regressions with the SPSS/WIN 25.0 program.
Results
Participants’ attitude and knowledge toward medical error-reporting were 3.45, and 3.00, respectively. Their ethical sensitivity was 4.15, and systems thinking was 3.89. Factors significantly affecting willingness to report adverse events included systems thinking, medical error-reporting attitude, and ethical sensitivity, and these variables accounted for 34.3% (F=23.73, p<.001). Factors significantly affecting willingness to report near misses included medical error-reporting attitude, which accounted for 11.5% (F=6.68, p<.001).
Conclusion
Increasing nursing students’ willingness to report medical errors requires integrated education to improve their attitude and knowledge of medical error reporting, ethical sensitivity, and systems thinking.

Keyword

Medical error-reporting; Ethical sensitivity; Systems thinking; Nursing students