A study to determine patient safety awareness and attitudes among medical students in a Malaysian University

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:Over the last decade, various methods to improve patient safety and to reduce medical errors are being implemented. Medical students should look into and participate in patient safety during their education. The objective of the study was to study the personal awareness, attitudes, and knowledge of patient safety measures in use in a Malaysian Medical College after implementation of the patient safety study module in the curriculum.MATERIAL AND METHODS:This was a cross-sectional analysis using a validated World Health Organization questionnaire (“Patient Safety – Curriculum Guide, Topic 1 questionnaire on patient safety”) on 4th-year medical students. The students’ awareness, attitudes, and knowledge of patient safety measures were assessed.RESULTS:One hundred and thirty-four years four undergraduate students of the Faculty of Medicine were recruited for the study using a convenience sampling method. The majority of study participants were females (65.4%). The median age of study participants was 24 years of the interquartile range = 1. On analysis, a majority of study participants had a medium level of knowledge about errors and patient safety. There was a significant positive correlation between the safety of the health-care system and personal influence over safety and attitudes toward patient safety (P < 0.05). There was also a positive correlation between personal influence over safety and safety at the workplace (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS:Our study indicates that student attitudes toward patient safety measures are positive, and knowledge and awareness are fair.