Views of Workers on Eliminating the Culture of Fear in Error Reporting

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined nurses’ideas, views, and their recommendations for overcoming the barrier of fear in reporting medical errors. Method: The study was conducted using the descriptive qualitative research method. In this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 nurses working in a training and research hospital. In the study sample, we included nurses who had completed their institutional orientation, and had been working for at least six months and agreed to participate in the study. Data were analyzed using the content analysis method. Results: The results showed that fears continues to be a key factor in failing to report errors. The study determined three main themes for the elimination of fear: “Training/Informing,” “Expectations from Managers,” and “Facilitating Initiatives.” Conclusions: Fear is an essential barrier in medical-error reporting. The views and recommendations of employees are crucial for solving this problem. The findings of this study are informative for guiding future research and managers.

Keywords

• Error-Reporting
• Barriers to Error-Reporting
• Fear
• Patient Safety

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