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NIGER DELTA JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & MEDICAL RESEARCH

A Publication Of Nigeria Medical Association Bayelsa State Branch

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Archive | ISSUE: 127, Volume: Jan-Mar-2025

MEDICAL ERRORS: AN ASSESSMENT OF AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN SUB URBAN, SOUTHERN NIGERIA


Author:Esene H, Ehis B, Sule Z, Agbon-Ojeme G, Otuomagie F, Adam V

published date:2025-Mar-13

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Abstract

Background: Medical errors remain a global public health concern, significantly compromising patient safety and healthcare quality. With healthcare-associated infections and diagnostic inaccuracies disproportionately higher in resource-limited settings, understanding the awareness and perception of medical errors among healthcare workers is vital to ensuring patient safety.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the awareness and perception of medical errors among healthcare workers in Okada, Edo State, Nigeria, and to identify determinants influencing these outcomes.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted, involving 324 healthcare workers selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected through structured, self-administered questionnaires adapted from the WHO’s patient safety assessment tools. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted using SPSS version 25.0, with logistic regression employed to identify significant predictors. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: All respondents were aware of medical errors, with 62% demonstrating good awareness. Factors significantly associated with awareness included age (p = 0.034), profession (p < 0.001), and income (p = 0.050). Doctors showed the highest awareness (77.3%), while pharmacists had the lowest (40.3%). Good perception was reported by 75.9% of participants, with variations across professional roles, although not statistically significant. Positive perception was most prominent among pharmacists (85.1%) and medical laboratory scientists (82.8%).

Conclusion: The study revealed that although awareness of medical errors among healthcare workers in Okada is high, significant gaps exist in specific domains of error recognition and perception across professional groups. Factors such as profession, age, and income influence these variations. The findings emphasize the need for targeted training programs, fostering non-punitive reporting environments, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance error prevention and patient safety.

Cite this article: Esene H, Ehis B, Sule Z, Agbon-Ojeme G, Otuomagie F, Adam V. Medical errors: an assessment of awareness and perception among healthcare workers in sub-urban, Southern Nigeria. Niger Delta J Med Med Res. 2025;4(1):1–9.

Keywords: Awareness, Determinants, Healthcare workers, Medical errors, Nigeria

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