Nursing students' perception regarding medication errors and reporting barriers in Sudan: A cross-sectional study

Approximately two-thirds of Sudanese nurses have committed medication errors (MEs) at some point during their professional careers. Notably, the rate of reporting these errors is considerably lower than figures reported in previous literature. This study aimed to explore nursing students’ perceptions of MEs and the barriers to reporting them at the Faculty of Nursing Sciences in Sudan. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 at the Faculty of Nursing, University of Khartoum, Sudan. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to 80 fourth-year undergraduate students engaged in hospital-based clinical training. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis via the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The most commonly reported types of errors were administering medication at the wrong time (60%) and administering medication at the incorrect rate (42.5%). The leading perceived causes of MEs were heavy workloads and sleep deprivation (58.8%). Interestingly, nearly half of the students (47.5%) indicated that they had never reported any MEs. The primary reasons cited for underreporting were fear of disciplinary action or job loss (92.5%) and fear of adverse reactions from nursing supervisors (90%). The findings of this study offer valuable insights for policymakers and educational leaders in nursing faculties and healthcare institutions. By addressing the root causes of MEs and removing barriers to error reporting, institutions can better prepare nursing students for the workforce. Ultimately, such efforts contribute to enhancing patient safety, improving the quality of nursing care, and mitigating the broader impact of MEs on patients, their families, healthcare systems, and society as a whole.