Factors affecting nursing error communication in intensive care units: A qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality and Safety
• Nursing Practice
• Medical Error Management

Background:

• Effective error communication is crucial for preventing medical errors and enhancing patient safety.
• Despite its importance, errors in intensive care units (ICUs) are often not communicated.
• Understanding the barriers to error communication is essential for improving healthcare practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the multifaceted factors influencing error communication among nurses in intensive care units.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to reporting medical errors in critical care settings.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study employing in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 17 critical care nurses.
• Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.
• The study was conducted in two public hospitals affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences.

Main Results:

• Four primary categories of factors emerged: the culture of error communication, consequences of errors for nurses and nursing, consequences of errors for patients, and ethical/professional characteristics.
• Specific subcategories included organizational atmosphere, clarity of guidelines, managerial support, fear of stigma/punishment, patient monitoring, ethical considerations, and inter-professional relationships.

Conclusions:

• Organizational factors, perceived consequences of errors, and individual professional characteristics significantly impact error communication in ICUs.
• Nurses face ethical challenges that influence their decision to communicate or conceal errors.
• Promoting error communication requires a supportive environment, clear guidelines, and education on ethical practice.