The relationship between moral sensitivity and medical errors attitude in nursing students

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Ethics
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Medical errors pose significant risks to patient safety.
• Understanding nursing students' perspectives on medical errors is crucial for improving healthcare quality.
• Moral sensitivity influences healthcare professionals' responses to errors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between moral sensitivity and attitudes towards medical errors among nursing students.
• To assess the correlation between nursing students' moral sensitivity and their perceptions of medical error reporting.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 309 fourth-year nursing students.
• Data were collected using a Descriptive characteristics form, the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ), and the Medical Errors Attitude Scale (MEAS).

Main Results:

• Participants' mean scores were 91.31 ± 21.29 for MSQ and 3.77 ± 0.44 for MEAS.
• A significant negative correlation was found between MSQ and MEAS scores.
• Higher moral sensitivity was associated with greater awareness and reporting of medical errors.

Conclusions:

• Nursing students' moral sensitivity is linked to their attitudes regarding medical errors.
• Moral education incorporating diverse teaching methods is recommended to enhance students' positive attitudes towards medical errors and reporting.
• Interventions aimed at improving moral sensitivity may positively impact patient safety by encouraging better error management practices.