Preferences and Perceptions of Medical Error Disclosure Among Marginalized Populations: A Narrative Review.

Area of Science:

• Medical ethics
• Patient safety
• Health disparities

Background:

• Disclosure of medical errors is an ethical imperative.
• Little is known about how preferences for medical error disclosure vary among patients from marginalized populations (people of color, older adults, lower educational attainment).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on medical error disclosure preferences and perceptions in marginalized populations.
• To identify gaps in the research regarding demographic variations in disclosure preferences.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a narrative review of studies on medical errors and disclosure.
• Included studies from high-income countries with predominantly marginalized populations (defined by age, education, or race/ethnicity).
• Analyzed 6 studies that met inclusion criteria, using methods such as hypothetical vignettes, focus groups, and surveys.

Main Results:

• All 6 studies examined patient preferences for disclosure, with most participants preferring disclosure.
• Three studies met criteria for marginalized populations based on education, and 3 based on race/ethnicity.
• No studies met inclusion criteria for age; most studies lacked detailed analysis of demographic differences in disclosure preferences.

Conclusions:

• Patients from marginalized populations may have disclosure preferences similar to white, highly educated patients.
• Further research is needed to investigate differences in error disclosure preferences across race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and age.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for improving patient-centered communication and care.