Hospital errors and their consequences among healthcare professionals a: descriptive correlational investigation

Medical errors, also known as hospital errors, are preventable incidents within hospitals that can significantly impact patient safety, healthcare costs, and treatment outcomes. This retrospective study aimed to assess the types and extent of hospital errors and their consequences among healthcare professionals.

This was a cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational, retrospective study conducted in selected hospitals in Iran, from 2022 to 2023. The study population included all documented hospital errors during this period. The final sample size was 763 based on a previous study's correlation coefficient. Data were collected using a researcher-made checklist. The data were entered into SPSS software version 22, coded, and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests.

The trauma hospital recorded the highest error rate with 298 incidents, accounting for 39.05% of total errors. Most errors were attributed to nurses (52.68%) and occurred during night shifts (42.60%). Common errors included documentation (23.32%), medication (22.28%), and technical issues (17.69%). Consequences varied: 25.55% of errors did not affect patients, while 26.86% reached patients but caused no harm. More severe outcomes included 2.28% resulting in major harm and 1.04% leading to patient deaths. Correlations existed between error types, staff, and hospital types.

Strong correlations between error types, involved staff, and consequences highlight the need for targeted interventions. Improving healthcare personnel training, implementing effective systems, and fostering a safety culture are essential to minimize the negative impact of medical errors on patient outcomes.