EXPLORING THE SILENCE: BARRIERS TO MEDICAL ERROR REPORTING IN UROLOGY

Abstract

Objective: To explore barriers to medical error reporting among urology healthcare professionals at tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar.

Methodology: This qualitative study utilized a case study approach. Maximum variation purposive sampling was employed to select faculty of Urology (assistant professor and above) with at least two years of experience, resulting in five interviews using a structured interview guide. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through thematic inductive analysis. Data collection and analysis were done concurrently.

Results: Four main themes precipitated from the data. Understanding the medical error landscape focuses on what constitutes a medical error. Reporting Roadblocks identified the barriers to reporting medical errors. Institutional Bottlenecks originate from the hurdles in the healthcare system to report medical errors. The last theme, pathways to progress, shows how to improve the process of reporting medical errors.

Conclusion: The study highlights the complex systemic, organizational, and human factors contributing to the underreporting and mismanagement of medical errors in urology units. Addressing these challenges is essential for advancing patient safety and fostering a culture of accountability in healthcare.