Perceptions and Attitudes towards Medication Error Reporting in Primary Care Clinics: A Qualitative Study in Malaysia.

A. Samsiah,Noordin Othman,Mohamed Azmi Hassali,Shazia Jamshed,Andrea Cignarella

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0166114

Abstract

ObjectiveTo explore and understand participants’ perceptions and attitudes towards the reporting of medication errors (MEs).MethodsA qualitative study using in-depth interviews of 31 healthcare practitioners from nine publicly funded, primary care clinics in three states in peninsular Malaysia was conducted for this study. The participants included family medicine specialists, doctors, pharmacists, pharmacist assistants, nurses and assistant medical officers. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Analysis of the data was guided by the framework approach.ResultsSix themes and 28 codes were identified. Despite the availability of a reporting system, most of the participants agreed that MEs were underreported. The nature of the error plays an important role in determining the reporting. The reporting system, organisational factors, provider factors, reporter’s burden and benefit of reporting also were identified.ConclusionsHealthcare practitioners in primary care clinics understood the importance of reporting MEs to improve patient safety. Their perceptions and attitudes towards reporting of MEs were influenced by many factors which affect the decision-making process of whether or not to report. Although the process is complex, it primarily is determined by the severity of the outcome of the errors. The participants voluntarily report the errors if they are familiar with the reporting system, what error to report, when to report and what form to use.

Highlights

Errors in healthcare practice are primarily the results of weaknesses in work systems [1]
Healthcare practitioners in primary care clinics understood the importance of reporting medication errors (MEs) to improve patient safety
Their perceptions and attitudes towards reporting of MEs were influenced by many factors which affect the decision-making process of whether or not to report

Summary

Introduction

Errors in healthcare practice are primarily the results of weaknesses in work systems [1]. To formulate appropriate safety solutions, the errors and their causes need to be identified and understood. This can be achieved through reporting of errors through any local or national reporting system as one of the tools to detect current issues of patients’ safety [1]. The goals of error reporting systems are learning and sharing as well as exchanging of information from healthcare past failures to enhance patients’ safety [2]. In response to above recommendation, numerous ME reporting tools have been constructed nationally or locally, in many countries and healthcare organisations. The Malaysia Ministry of Health (MOH) introduced the Medication Error Reporting System (MERS) in August 2009. The database will be analysed and used as the foundation for proposing appropriate remedial actions [5]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion