Assessment of Nurses’ Attitudes toward Medication Errors in Al-Hillah Teaching Hospitals

Abstract

Medication errors are a common occurrence in healthcare settings, contributing significantly to 
needless patient harm.  Nurses play a critical role in medicine management and serve as the final 
line of defense against errors.  Their views on medical mistakes have an impact on error 
identification, prevention, and reporting, all of which are critical for patient safety.  In developing 
nations, including Iraq, low resources, heavy workloads, and weak protection mechanisms face 
additional obstacles. This study aims to analyze nurses' attitudes and perceptions regarding 
medication mistakes in Al-Hillah Teaching Hospitals. 
Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. The study sample 
included 170 nurses from critical care units of Al-Hillah and Al-Imam Al-Sadiq Teaching 
Hospitals, selected via purposive sampling. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire 
(reliability r = 0.82) covering demographics, perception, and attitudes toward medication errors 
and reporting. Responses were scored on a 3-point Likert scale (agree = 3, neutral = 2, disagree = 
1). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and 
standard deviations. 
Results: Most participants were female (57.6%), aged 20–30 years (75.9%), and held a 
bachelor’s degree (52.4%). The mean score for perception of medication errors was 2.70 (SD = 
0.506), and the mean attitude toward reporting errors was 2.48 (SD = 0.657), indicating generally 
positive views. However, nurses identified fear of punishment, heavy workload, insufficient managerial support, and limited training as barriers to reporting. Less-experienced nurses were particularly affected. 
Conclusion: Nurses at Al-Hillah Teaching Hospitals demonstrate positive attitudes toward 
medication errors, but organizational and cultural barriers limit consistent reporting. Implementing 
non-punitive policies, supportive supervision, continuous training, and accessible reporting 
systems is recommended to enhance patient safety and promote a culture of transparency.