Navigating veterinary error disclosure: An examination of humble leadership and safety attitudes in veterinary...

The veterinary environment faces distinct challenges in leadership and safety climates, with humble leadership linked to improved outcomes in other fields.

A cross-sectional survey assessed perceptions of humble leadership, psychological safety, safety climate and error disclosure attitudes in veterinary professionals in Australia. Demographic and professional-group differences, as well as associations and predictors of attitudes towards error disclosure were examined using non-parametric tests, correlation and logistic regression analyses.

Humble leadership perceptions differed by role (p < 0.001), with hospital directors reporting higher scores. Psychological safety scores were higher among men (p = 0.02). Among the professional roles, hospital directors reported the highest psychological safety (p < 0.001). Safety climate perceptions were more positive among full-time employees (p < 0.008) and those in teaching hospitals (p = 0.004). Psychological safety strongly correlated with humble leadership (ρ = 0.62; p < 0.001). Psychological safety (odds ratio [OR] = 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.15; p < 0.001) and leadership perceptions (OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.02-1.08; p < 0.001) significantly predicted positive attitudes towards error disclosure.

Selection bias may have overestimated perceptions of humble leadership and error disclosure among veterinary leaders.

Humble leadership and psychological safety are important in promoting positive attitudes towards error disclosure.