Quantifying behavioural determinants relating to health professional reporting of medication errors: a cross-sectional survey using the Theoretical Domains Framework

Abstract

Purpose

The aims of this study were to quantify the behavioural determinants of health professional reporting of medication errors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to explore any differences between respondents.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of patient-facing doctors, nurses and pharmacists within three major hospitals of Abu Dhabi, the UAE. An online questionnaire was developed based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF, a framework of behaviour change theories). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify components and internal reliability determined. Ethical approval was obtained from a UK university and all hospital ethics committees.

Results

Two hundred and ninety-four responses were received. Questionnaire items clustered into six components of knowledge and skills, feedback and support, action and impact, motivation, effort and emotions. Respondents generally gave positive responses for knowledge and skills, feedback and support and action and impact components. Responses were more neutral for the motivation and effort components. In terms of emotions, the component with the most negative scores, there were significant differences in terms of years registered as health professional (those registered longest most positive, p = 0.002) and age (older most positive, p < 0.001) with no differences for gender and health profession.

Conclusion

Emotional-related issues are the dominant barrier to reporting and are common to all professions. There is a need to develop, test and implement an intervention to impact health professionals' emotions. Such an intervention should focus on evidence-based behaviour change techniques of reducing negative emotions, focusing on emotional consequences and providing social support.

Key messages

• This research used the Theoretical Domains Framework to quantify the behavioural determinants of health professional reporting of medication errors.

• Questionnaire items relating to emotions surrounding reporting generated the most negative responses with significant differences in terms of years registered as health professional (those registered longest most positive) and age (older most positive) with no differences for gender and health profession.

• Interventions based on behaviour change techniques mapped to emotions should be prioritised for development.

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