Mohamad Rafiezadeh, Mahshad Noroozi, Akram Hashemi, Saeedeh Saeedi Tehrani,
Volume 0, Issue 0 (9-2025)
Abstract
Introduction
Physicians often hesitate to disclose their errors due to fears of legal repercussions and stigma. Understanding their attitudes toward error prevention and professional behavior is essential. This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes of interns at Iran University of Medical Sciences regarding the disclosure of medical errors.
Materials and Methods
This cross-sectional descriptive study included all interns who entered the university in 2017. Data were collected using the Persian version of the Medical Mistakes Survey questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS software version 26.
Findings
Among the 186 participants, 66% reported committing a medical error. Only 21% fully disclosed errors with no significant adverse effects, while 31% disclosed errors with severe consequences.
Conclusion
Most interns avoid fully disclosing errors, primarily due to fears of legal action and concerns about being underestimated by patients. Further studies are needed to enhance physicians' performance and patient safety.
