Evaluating the effective factors for reporting medical errors

The reporting of medical errors is impacted by organizational culture issues such as the anxiety of being held accountable and even shamed and negative outcomes from reporting. The fear of negative reactions and disciplinary consequences, including dismissals, makes nurses and doctors unwilling to report medication errors. Organizational factors that contribute to under-reporting or non-reporting among nurses and doctors in various healthcare settings include a failure to comprehend an existing policy on reporting and the process of making such reports.

Zarea et al. (2018) examined Iranian nursing care-related pharmaceutical errors. The study focuses on the many medication errors made by these providers, their causes, and related factors. The researchers identified various factors contributing to medication errors and lack of reporting using a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical approach comprising 225 nurses in various institutions. Low nurse-to-patient ratios, a heavier workload, and exhaustion from more work contribute to medication errors. The major barrier to reporting medication errors was the worry of legal retaliation and penalties. Previous studies demonstrates that various systematic and individual factors are linked to the under- or non-reporting of medical errors in the medical field.

A questionnaire was employed by Mansouri et al. (2019) to examine the opinions and attitudes of more than 251 nurses working in various hospitals. According to the study, there are three main barriers to reporting medical adverse outcomes and errors. Fear of the consequences of reporting, existing organizational procedure barriers, and managerial constraints or obstacles, among other challenges contributing to medication errors. Yan et al. (2020) demonstrate that several factors prevent healthcare workers from reporting adverse occurrences and near-misses. These include an increased workload, a desire for seclusion, a lack of support, and the worry of facing retaliation through disciplinary action. As a result, some healthcare personnel is hesitant to report errors and other unpleasant events due to the potential for negative feedback and unfavorable attitudes from various stakeholders.
Variable or Construct #1

According to categorical research findings, healthcare workers and facilities can lessen the factors contributing to medical error under and non-reporting. According to Yan et al. (2020), disclosing errors encourages patient safety, information sharing, and provider education. The study suggests that healthcare management should reward staff members who report problems and suggest solutions. Reporting medication administration errors provides more advantages than potential drawbacks, including punishment and termination. For instance, implementing an organizational framework and policy that emphasizes reporting such instances is crucial in dealing with the problem (Dall’Ora et al., 2020). Another important step is training personnel on how to reduce medication errors. Additionally, healthcare organizations and management should promote a professional culture among medical staff members to encourage them to maintain accountability and be willing to report such medication errors (Oxtoby & Mossop, 2019). Healthcare organizations should stop fostering a blame-and-shame culture and concentrate on evidence-based practice to minimize medication errors and improve patient safety.
Variable or Construct #2

Khorasani and Beigi (2017) stress the significance of evaluating practical elements for healthcare facilities and medical staff members to report medical errors. The study suggests that they need the right knowledge and a positive attitude to improve and encourage healthcare workers to report errors and take the necessary actions on the reports. Such activities will result in a strengthened system that concentrates on reducing such unfavorable incidents in its operations, contacts with patients, and processes. In order to improve care delivery, Howard et al. (2019) assert that healthcare facilities should use technology to improve their approaches to reporting medication errors. They also encourage nurses and other professionals to provide this vital information. Mitigating these negative events requires strong policies to improve reporting and safeguard the health of the patients affected.
Research Gap

More research is needed to understand how healthcare organizations and providers may foster a reporting culture without obstacles like fear of victimization and retribution from management. This is necessary to build on previous research to support the findings. In order to determine how healthcare organizations may create a culture that supports and encourages clinicians to disclose medical errors when they occur, the paper will employ a systematic review technique. In this instance, a systematic review is the most appropriate method because it will present information from several researchers on the issue and suggest strategies for reducing medication errors by addressing their causes and effects.