Review Article

Common Barriers to Reporting Medical Errors

Table 1

Summary of the selected studies.

ReferenceCountryPublication yearObjectiveStudy designSample size (response rate, %)SubjectsSettingResults (most important barriers reported by themes)

Morrison et al. [12]Iran2020Medical errorsSurvey164 (78)Nurses (n = 77)
Physicians (n = 87)
Single hospitalFear of consequences
Lack of feedback
Moher et al. [13]Turkey2019Medication errorsSurvey135 (53)NursesSingle hospitalFear of consequences
Poo understanding of ME and importance of reporting
Mahdaviazad et al. [14]South Korea2019Medication errorsSurvey218 (81)NursesMulticenter (7 hospitals)Fear of consequences
Dirik et al. [15]Iran2019Medical errorsInterviews18 (NA)NursesUnit specific (pediatric inpatient)Fear of consequences
Work climate/culture
Kim and Kim [16]USA2018Medication errorsSurvey357 (36)NursesSingle hospitalTime consuming
Fear of consequences
Mousavi-Roknabadi et al. [17]Qatar2018Medication errorsSurvey1604 (NA)Nurses (n = 1089)
Physicians (n = 213)
Pharmacists (n = 207)
Single hospitalFear of consequences
Rutledge et al. [18]Iran2017Medication errorsSurvey328 (65)NursesMulticenter (7 hospitals)Time consuming
Fear of consequences
Stewart et al. [19]Saudi2017Medication errorsSurvey367 (73)NursesSingle hospitalFear of consequences
Fathi et al. [20]Turkey2017Medical errorsInterviews23 (NA)Nurses (n = 15)
Physicians (n = 8)
Single hospitalFear of consequences
Lack of feedback
Lack of a reporting system
Hammoudi and Yahya [21]South Korea2017Medication errorsSurvey245 (33)PharmacistsMulticenter (32 hospitals)Lack of understanding of ME and the importance of reporting ME
Soydemir et al. [22]Iran2017Medical errorsSurvey140 (NA)NursesUnit specific (obstetric ward)Fear of consequences
Kang et al. [23]USA2017Medication errorsSurvey71 (45)NursesUnit specific (ER)Lack of feedback
Work climate/culture factors
Mobarakabadi et al. [24]UAE2016Medication errorsInterviews29 (NA)Nurses (n = 10)
Pharmacists (n = 10)
Physicians (n = 9)
Multicenter (3 hospitals)Lack of feedback
Work climate/culture
Farag et al. [25]USA2016Medical errorsPost hoc analysis of a national database5339 (NA)PharmacistsMulticenter (NA)Lack of feedback
Work climate/culture
Alqubaisi et al. [26]Taiwan2016Medication errorsSurvey15 (41)NursesSingle hospitalFear from consequences
Patterson and Pace [27]Iran2015Medical errorsSurvey348 (16)Physicians, nurses, and othersMulticenter (5 hospitals)Lack of a reporting system
Lack of understanding of ME and the importance of reporting ME
Yung et al. [28]USA2015Medical errorsPost hoc analysis of a national databaseNAAll employeesMulticenter (NA)Work climate/culture
Poorolajal et al. [29]USA2015Medical errorsSurvey40 (60%)NursesUnit specific (surgical)Work climate/culture
Derickson et al. [30]USA2014Medical errorsSurvey300 (75)Nurses (n = 186)
Physicians (n = 26)
Paramedics (n = 78)
Single hospitalFear of consequences
Farag and Anthony [31]South Korea2014MedicalSurvey522 (77)NursesMulticenter (2 hospitals)Work climate/culture
Jahromi et al. [32]UK2014Medication errorsInterviews50 (NA)NursesUnit specific (psychiatric hospital)Time consuming
Lack of understanding of ME and the importance of reporting ME
Fear of consequences
Hwang and Ahn [33]Iran2014Medication errorsSurvey100 (NA)NursesSingle hospitalLack of a reporting system
Lack of feedback
Lack of understanding of ME and the importance of reporting ME
Haw et al. [34]USA2013Medical errorsPost hoc analysis of a national database5339 (NA)PharmacistsMulticenter (NA)Work climate/culture
Mostafaei et al. [35]Saudi2013Medication errorsSurvey307 (88)NursesSingle hospitalFear of consequences
Patterson et al. [36]Canada2012Medication errorsFocus groupNANAMulticenter (4 hospitals)Time consuming
Fear of consequences
Aboshaiqah [37]Turkey2012Medication errorsSurvey119 (72)NursesUnit specific (pediatrics)Fear of consequences
Hartnell et al. [38]Taiwan2010Medication errorsSurvey838 (84)NursesMulticenter (5 hospitals)Fear of consequences
Toruner and Uysal [39]UK2009Medical errorsSurvey134 (66)Nurses (n = 82)
Physicians (n = 55)
Unit specific (surgical units)Lack of understanding of ME and the importance of reporting ME
Lack of feedback
Chiang [40]Taiwan2006Medication errorsSurvey597 (74)NursesSingle hospitalFear of consequences
Time consuming
Lack of feedback
Kreckler et al. [41]USA2005Medication errorsSurvey25 (41)NursesSingle hospitalFear of consequences