Factors affecting nursing students' intention to report medication errors: An application of the theory of planned behavior

Abstract

Background: Medication errors are common among nursing students. Nonetheless, these errors are often underreported.

Objectives: To examine factors related to nursing students' intention to report medication errors, using the Theory of Planned Behavior, and to examine whether the theory is useful in predicting students' intention to report errors.

Design: This study has a descriptive cross-sectional design.

Settings: Study population was recruited in a university and a large nursing school in central and northern Israel.

Participants: A convenience sample of 250 nursing students took part in the study.

Methods: The students completed a self-report questionnaire, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior.

Results: The findings indicate that students' intention to report medication errors was high. The Theory of Planned Behavior constructs explained 38% of variance in students' intention to report medication errors. The constructs of behavioral beliefs, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control were found as affecting this intention, while the most significant factor was behavioral beliefs. The findings also reveal that students' fear of the reaction to disclosure of the error from superiors and colleagues may impede them from reporting the error.

Conclusions: Understanding factors related to reporting medication errors is crucial to designing interventions that foster error reporting.

Keywords: Intentions; Medication errors; Nursing students; Reporting; Theory of planned behavior.