Perceptions of healthcare workers about medical errors: A cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital in Jordan

BackgroundPatient safety is a global public health issue. It aims to reduce medical errors to ensure patients' health and achieve the best possible outcomes.PurposeThis study aims to examine the perceptions of healthcare workers about medical errors in a tertiary hospital in Jordan.Methodology/approachThe descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study included 246 healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital in Jordan. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select the participants. Data were collected using a questionnaire that was used in previous literature. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Software (SPSS), version 27, was used to analyze the data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to address research objectives.ResultsThe majority of the participants were females and had a bachelor's degree. Human error, lack of resources and failure of the communication system were the most frequently reported causes of errors (38.2%, 32.5%, and 30.0%, respectively). The findings show that disclosure of patient errors was perceived by 78% of the participants as a method to reduce the effect of medical errors on patient health. Raising awareness and training were perceived as the most impactful way in which hospitals could reduce medical errors. Reporting errors was stated by 52% of the respondents as a method to deal with medical errors. However, the commonest barriers to reporting errors were identified as culture (38.2%) and a long complicated process of errors reporting (28.9%). The emergency department was reported as the commonest place for medical errors occurrence.ConclusionThe findings revealed the experience of a Jordanian hospital regarding medical errors. Healthcare organizations and policymakers can utilize the findings presented in this paper to reduce medical errors, therefore promoting quality healthcare and patient safety.