Medical error reporting among physicians and nurses in Uganda

Patient safety is a fundamental component of health care quality and medical errors continue to occur, placing patients at risk. Medical error reporting systems could help reduce the errors.

This study assessed "Medical error reporting among Physicians and Nurses in Uganda". The objectives were; (1) identify the existing medical error reporting systems. (2) Assess the types of medical errors that occurred. (3) Establish factors influencing error reporting.

A cross-sectional, descriptive study in Kisubi and Entebbe hospitals between March to August 2013, with quantitative methods.

Medical errors occurred in the two hospitals (53.2%), with overdoses (42.9%) leading. Neither hospital had a medical error reporting system. More than two thirds, 42(64.6%), would not report. Almost half, 29(44.6%) believe reporting a medical error is a medical obligation. Majority, 50(76.9%), believed the law does not protect medical error reporting. Not punishing health workers who report medical errors, (53.8%) and 'training on error reporting (41.70%) are the greatest measures to improve medical error reporting among nurses and physicians respectively.

Medical errors occur in the two hospitals and there are no reporting systems. Health workers who report medical errors should not be punished.