Medication error reporting system: barriers and challenging issues among HCPs in Saudi Arabia – a cross-sectional study

Medication errors pose a significant threat to patient safety globally, including in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to assess healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) understanding, attitudes, and challenges regarding medication error reporting in Saudi hospitals. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered online questionnaire among HCPs (physicians, pharmacists, and nurses) from various hospitals across Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire explored their knowledge, attitudes, and experiences related to medication error reporting. A total of 170 HCPs participated in the study, with the majority being under 35 years old (67.06%), female (70.59%), and Saudi nationals (74.71%). A majority of participants (87.06%) had heard of the medication error report form, and 73.53% reported medication errors before. Participants aged less than 35 years had significantly lower knowledge scores compared to those aged 35-45 years (<i>p</i> = 0.021), and male participants had significantly higher knowledge scores compared to female participants (<i>p</i> = 0.005). Pharmacists had the highest knowledge scores among all health professions (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and participants working in government hospitals had significantly higher knowledge scores compared to those working in private hospitals (<i>p</i> = 0.034). In terms of attitude scores, male participants had significantly higher attitude scores compared to female participants (<i>p</i> = 0.046). This study highlights progress in medication error reporting among HCPs in Saudi Arabia but identifies gaps in knowledge, reporting, and systemic barriers. Addressing these challenges through education, process optimization, and a non-punitive reporting culture is key to improving safety. Future research should expand beyond hospitals and assess policy and training impacts over time.