The relationship between moral sensitivity and medical errors attitude in nursing students

• Published in: Journal of forensic and legal medicine 2020-07, Vol.73, p.101981-101981, Article 101981
• Main Authors: Gülnar, Emel, Özveren, Hüsna, Özden, Dilek
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitude; Attitude of Health Personnel; Female; Humans; Male; Medical error; Medical Errors; Moral sensitivity; Morals; Nursing student; Students, Nursing; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1752-928X; 1878-7487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2020.101981

The aim of this descriptive and correlational study was to determine the relationship between nursing students' moral sensitivity and attitudes towards medical errors. The study sample consisted of 309 fourth graders of the school of nursing of a university. Data were collected using a Descriptive characteristics form, the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ) and the Medical Errors Attitude Scale (MEAS). Participants had a mean MSQ and MEAS score of 91.31 ± 21.29 and 3.77 ± 0.44, respectively. There was a negative correlation between MEAS and MSQ scores, indicating that the higher the moral sensitivity, the higher the participants’ awareness of medical errors and error reporting. It is, therefore, recommended that students be offered moral education based on different teaching methods to help them develop positive attitudes towards medical errors. •Nursing students have above-average ethical sensitivity. .•Nursing students have positive attitudes towards medical errors. .•Ethical sensitivity positively affected nursing students' attitudes towards medical errors.