The intention to disclose medical errors among health professionals in Kazakhstan

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Disclosure of near-miss medical error (ME) and how to disclose ME to patients remain controversial. Furthermore, available guidelines on the disclosure of ME have primarily emerged in developing countries; however, their suitability for Central Asian states is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of healthcare professionals (HCPs) intending to disclose MEs and their perceptions pertaining to MEs.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey in Kazakhstan using a structured questionnaire to collect data from 109 HCPs about the causes of disclosure MEs and the consequences in their practice.

Results

The majority of participants believed that they would be sued if they disclosed errors and near misses. There was a positive relationship between the threat of censure (p = 0.03) and the threat of dismissal (p = 0.01) in HCPs. There was also a significant difference between the distributions of liable for malpractice after disclosing an error to a patient or family member and experience of reporting a ME to administration.

Conclusions

In this study, most HCPs reported MEs to a hospital administration, although about half perceived that disclosing MEs to a patient is ethically unnecessary. Poor disclosure could be due to the fear of litigation and dismissal.

KEYWORDS:

• Disclosure
• medical errors
• malpractice
• negligence
• healthcare providers

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all the participants for their valuable contribution to the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ contributions: OxanaTsigengagel, MakpalAlchimbayeva, andNatalya Glushkova were responsible forconceptualization, software, methodology, curation of data, preparation of the draft, and reviewing, editing, and proofreadingof the article. VugarMammadov, SholpanAliyeva, AzharDyussupova, and AlmasDyussupov contributed todata collection and curation, software, drafting, andreviewing and editing of the article. All authors have approved the final manuscript.

Ethical statement: The informed consent form was signed by each patient before the study beginning. The study protocol was considered by the Ethical Committee of Semey Medical University and the permission was granted (Protocol No 3, dated 21 October, 2019).

Study design

This is a cross-sectional study.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Makpal Alchimbayeva

Makpal Alchimbayeva is a Ph.D student at Astana Medical University in Astana, Kazakhstan. She is currently working as a researcher in the Presidential Hospital. She continues to conduct research in the field of defensive medicine.

Natalya Glushkova

Natalya Glushkova works as a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Evidence Based Medicine at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. At the same time, he continues to work as the director of the Institute of Health. She has more than 70 works in the fields of public health and epidemiology.

Vugar Mammadov

Vugar Mammadov is a Professor of Medical Law and Bioethics, Law Faculty, Baku State University and Department of Forensic Medicine, Azerbaijan Medical University, Ideal Biznes Ko MMC, Supervisory Board Independent member, Healthcare cluster. Deputy Chairman of the Board, DTSERA, MoLSPP. WHO Azerbaijan National Consultant, AT, Rehabilitation & Disability. WAML Governor, World Association for Medical Law. SRFC Vice-President, Silk Road Forensic Consortium. He has more than 330 publications including 11 books in the field medical law and bioethics.

Sholpan Aliyeva

Sholpan Aliyeva is a Ph.D student at Kazakhstan Medical University “Kazakhstan School of Public Health” in Almaty, Kazakhstan. She is currently working as an OB/GYNs in the Hospital. She continues to conduct research in the field of public health.

Azhar Dyussupova

Azhar Dyussupova is a Professor in the Department of General Medicine, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan. Her research is largely focused family practice and how health management can use them to their greatest advantage. In addition, she has conducted research in the areas of features of infusion therapy in patients of the therapeutic profile.

Almas Dyussupov

Almas Dyussupov is a Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan. His research interests are in the emergency medicine involves a comprehensive assessment of topics in emergency medicine.

Oxana Tsigengagel

Oxana Tsigengagel is a PhD of public health. Her research interests are in the public health and medical safety. She was also awarded research grant “International Bioethics Research Postdoctoral Training – C. Asia Network”, from Boston Children's Hospital in the Division of Developmental Medicine, Harvard Medical School, funded by the National Institutes of Health of USA. Her recent writings have appeared in the Journal of law and medicine, European Journal of Public Health, Iranian Journal of Public Health, International Journal of Healthcare Management.