Perceptions, Reporting Willingness, and Support Systems for Medical Errors among Healthcare Workers Insights from Subnational Ghana

Abstract

Background: Medical errors pose a significant challenge to patient safety and result in avoidable patient morbidity and mortality, as well as increased cost of healthcare worldwide. Healthcare workers in Ghana face barriers to reporting these errors, particularly in subnational settings that often have fewer resources and support systems. Understanding the perceptions, willingness to report and availability of support systems for medical errors is essential important to improve patient safety in the region.

Objectives: This study sought to examine healthcare workers’ perceptions of medical errors, assess their willingness to report these incidents, and examine the support systems available for error reporting.

Methods: The study employed an illustrative case study design to purposively sample 45 health workers from different health facilities in Ghana’s Central Region. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews, with thematic analysis of interview data conducted.

Findings: The findings revealed that healthcare workers generally agree that medical errors are preventable. However, opinions differ regarding the severity of minor errors. Contributing factors include high workloads, limited resources, and gaps in training. Many healthcare workers feel a moral obligation to report errors, but fear of blame and punitive consequences, especially for junior staff, often discourages them from doing so. Additionally, support systems for reporting errors vary. Larger hospitals tend to have formal procedures in place, while smaller facilities often rely on informal methods. The lack of feedback and follow-up after reporting, along with insufficient training, further hinders effective error reporting.

Conclusion: This study emphasizes the key barriers to error reporting. It highlights the importance of fostering a non-punitive culture, establishing standardized protocols, providing ongoing training, and implementing effective feedback mechanisms. By addressing these challenges, patient safety can be significantly enhanced, as well as creating a more supportive environment for healthcare workers in low-resource settings