Exploring medical students’ perspectives on patient safety: a qualitative case study using reflective learning

Patient safety (PS) is essential to high-quality healthcare, yet its integration into undergraduate medical education remains challenging. This qualitative exploratory case study examined fifth-year medical students’ perspectives on patient safety through reflections on clinical experiences following a two-week elective PS module. Twenty-nine students at Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine participated during the 2022–2023 academic year. Based on the seven patient safety objectives of Joint Commission International (JCI), the module included role-play, standardized patient encounters, simulation, case discussions, and facilitator-guided group reflection. Reflection transcripts were analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Three interconnected themes emerged: Culture, PS Training, and Healthcare System. Students described discrepancies between formal patient safety education and clinical practice, particularly regarding communication, teamwork, hierarchy, accountability, role modelling, and socio-cultural influences. They highlighted the value of clinical observation and structured reflection in recognizing patient safety issues beyond technical skills. Guided reflection helped students interpret their experiences, relate theoretical knowledge to practice, and identify areas for educational improvement. These findings suggest that combining authentic clinical experiences with structured reflection may support systems thinking, communication, cultural awareness, and reflective practice, helping narrow the gap between patient safety education and clinical practice.