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Table 3 Students’ Attitude Towards Patient Safety using the Modified Version of the Attitudes to Patient Safety Questionnaire III (APSQ-III)

From: Pharmacy students’ attitudes toward patient safety in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Key Safety Factor Items

Strongly Disagree N (%)

Disagree N (%)

Undecided N (%)

Agree

N (%)

Strongly Agree

N (%)

1. Patient safety training received

 1. My training is preparing me to understand the causes of medical errors

27 (7.8)

46 (13.2)

45 (13.0)

98 (28.2)

94 (27.1)

 2. I have a good understanding of patient safety issues as a result of my undergraduate medical training.

9 (2.6)

72 (20.7)

59 (17.0)

103 (29.7)

65 (18.7)

 3. My training is preparing me to prevent medical errors

11 (3.2)

56 (16.1)

49 (14.1)

81 (23.3)

111 (32.0)

2. Error reporting confidence

 4. I would feel comfortable reporting any errors I had made, no matter how serious the outcome had been for the patient.

15 (4.3)

49 (14.1)

51 (14.7)

93 (26.8)

102 (29.4)

 5. I would feel comfortable reporting any errors other people had made, no matter how serious the outcome had been for the patient.

11 (3.2)

38 (11.0)

73 (21.0)

97 (28.0)

92 (26.5)

 6. I am confident I could talk openly to my supervisor about an error I had made if it had resulted in potential or actual harm to my patient

7 (2.0)

38 (11.0)

46 (13.3)

102 (29.4)

119 (34.3)

3. Working hours as error cause

 7. Shorter shifts for doctors will reduce medical errors

12 (3.5)

70 (20.2)

57 (16.4)

73 (21.0)

100 (28.8)

 8. By not taking regular breaks during shifts doctors are at an increased risk of making errors

7 (2.0)

46 (13.3)

44 (12.7)

86 (24.8)

128 (36.9)

 9. The number of hours doctors work increases the likelihood of making medical errors

7 (2.0)

44 (12.7)

58 (16.7)

78 (22.5)

123 (35.4)

4. Error inevitability

 10. Even the most experienced and competent doctors make errors.

8 (2.3)

42 (12.2)

42 (12.1)

81 (23.3)

138 (39.8)

 11. A true professional does not make mistakes or errors

105 (30.3)

110 (31.7)

43 (12.4)

36 (10.4)

16 (4.6)

 12. Human error is inevitable

41 (11.8)

79 (22.8)

73 (21.0)

54 (15.6)

60 (17.3)

5. Professional incompetence as error cause

 13. If people paid more attention at work, medical errors would be avoided

10 (2.9)

37 (10.7)

41 (11.8)

106 (30.5)

117 (3.7)

 14. Most medical errors result from careless doctors

18 (5.2)

78 (22.5)

65 (18.7)

85 (24.5)

64 (18.4)

 15. Medical errors are a sign of incompetence

12 (3.5)

65 (18.7)

91 (26.2)

84 (24.2)

55 (15.9)

6. Disclosure responsibility

 16. It is not necessary to report errors which do not result in adverse outcomes for the patient

97 (28.0)

81 (23.4)

51 (14.7)

42 (12.1)

37 (10.7)

 17. Doctors have a responsibility to disclose errors to patients only if they result in patient harm

50 (14.4)

84 (24.6)

58 (16.7)

60 (17.3)

56 (16.1)

 18. All medical errors should be reported

10 (2.9)

21 (8.9)

40 (11.5)

59 (17.0)

165 (47.6)

7. Team functioning

 19. Better multi-disciplinary teamwork will reduce medical errors

5 (1.4)

28 (8.4)

38 (11.0)

82 (23.6)

155 (44.7)

 20. Teaching teamwork skills will reduce medical errors

5 (1.4)

26 (7.5)

40 (11.5)

71 (20.5)

166 (47.8)

8. Patient involvement in reducing error

 21. Patients have an important role in preventing medical errors

10 (2.9)

51 (14.7)

64 (18.4)

103 (29.7)

82 (23.6)

 22. Encouraging patients to be more involved in their care can help to reduce the risk of medical errors occurring.

8 (2.3)

33 (9.5)

44 (12.7)

98 (28.2)

125 (36.0)

9. Importance of patient safety in the curriculum

 23. Teaching students about patient safety should be an important priority in medical students training

17 (4.9)

34 (9.8)

28 (8.1)

59 (17.0)

169 (48.7)

 24. Patient safety issues cannot be taught and can only be learned by clinical experience when qualified

31 (8.9)

94 (27.1)

59 (17.0)

59 (17.0)

64 (18.4)

 26. Learning about patient safety issues before I qualify will enable me to become a more effective doctor

18 (5.2)

35 (10.6)

31 (8.9)

69 (19.9)

154 (44.4)

  1. Note: Based on 347 Pharmacy Students from four different universities