Examining Medication Error Knowledge, Perceptions, and Attitudes Among Students at a Medical and Health Science University in a Cross-sectional Survey

ABSTRACT

Background: Improving patient safety is vital, with medication errors posing serious risks. Understanding health professional students’ views on errors is crucial for fostering vigilant patient safety practices among future healthcare providers. Objectives: This study aims to assess healthcare professional students’ knowledge of medication errors, their attitudes toward medication safety, and their perspectives on medication errors. Additionally, it seeks to identify educational gaps and provide recommendations for enhancing healthcare safety practices. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional, self-administered survey study. All students in the university, excluding students from years 1 and 2, were invited to complete an anonymous survey questionnaire addressing attitudes, practices, and views on medical error reporting. Results and Discussion: Our survey involved 282 subjects, with a mean standard deviation (SD) age of 21.2 years (1.26). The mean score was 36.36 (5.2). 66.4% of participants agreed on having knowledge about medication error reporting. 39.4% disagreed with being fearful of getting blamed if they reported a medication error they made. However, a majority of participants, 44.1%, preferred to educate those who made a medication error rather than report it. Conclusion: The participants showed good knowledge and a modest attitude toward reporting medication errors. However, translating this knowledge into practice necessitates additional training in medication safety.

KEYWORDS

• Medication errors
• healthcare safety
• cross-sectional study
• error reporting
• health professional students

Showing references and in-text citations exactly as published.

Cite this article

• DOI10.1177/0976500X251336868Copy

RELATED ARTICLES

Matched on volume, issue, section and article type within J Pharmacol. Pharmacother..

• Article · VOLUME 17, ISSUE 1Curcuma xanthorrhiza Rhizome Extract Attenuates the Complete Freund’s Adjuvantinduced Rheumatoid Arthritis in RatsPatrick A. Kalona, Uma Sundaresan, Chellappandian M., Ariharasivakumar G. · pp. 101–110Original Research ArticleSame type: ArticleSame issue
• Article · VOLUME 17, ISSUE 1Comparative Study of in vitro Anti-proliferative Activity of Metformin, Teneligliptin, and Canagliflozin against Breast Cancer Cell LineGowri Venugopal, Kumaravelu Punnagai, Sukumar Ramya · pp. 111–116Original Research ArticleSame type: ArticleSame issue
• Article · VOLUME 17, ISSUE 1A Comparative Study of Reno-protection with Combination of N-acetylcysteine and Keto Analogs Versus Probiotics and Keto Analogs in Predialytic Chronic Kidney DiseaseZeenath Unnissa, Umair Wahedi, Zeba Fatima, Mohammed Mudassir, Parthasaradhi Sarvepally · pp. 117–126Original Research ArticleSame type: ArticleSame issue
• Article · VOLUME 17, ISSUE 1Evaluation of Topical Lifitegrast Formulations for Treatment of PsoriasisRahul Sudhakar Gawande, Anil Meghrajji Pethe · pp. 127–134Original Research ArticleSame type: ArticleSame issue