Comparing Attitudes toward Disclosing Medical Errors between Medical Students and Interns

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Communication

Background:

• Patient-centered care emphasizes transparency in healthcare.
• Understanding healthcare professionals' attitudes towards medical error disclosure is vital for improving patient trust and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the attitudes of medical students and interns regarding the disclosure of medical errors.
• To identify differences in perceptions of medical errors and barriers to disclosure between these two groups.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire survey was administered to 164 medical students and interns.
• The survey assessed knowledge, attitudes toward medical error disclosure, and perceived barriers to disclosure.

Main Results:

• Medical students were more likely than interns to believe patients want to be informed of errors (75.6% vs. 46.3%) and that serious errors should be disclosed (83.1% vs. 46.3%).
• Interns perceived medical errors less seriously (56.1%) compared to medical students (74.8%).
• Both groups identified fear of malpractice suits as the primary barrier to disclosure.

Conclusions:

• Significant differences exist in attitudes toward medical error disclosure between medical students and interns, with interns showing more negative attitudes.
• These differing perspectives may hinder patient-centered care, highlighting the need for early education on disclosure importance in medical schools.
• Addressing these perspective gaps is essential for fostering trust and improving patient safety in healthcare.