Knowledge and Attitudes of Nurses Towards Medication Errors Reporting in a Hospital in Kebbi State

Nurses are frontline healthcare workers who are well positioned to detect and report medication errors, yet underreporting remains a pervasive problem in Nigerian hospital settings. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to medication error reporting among nurses at a general hospital in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 120 nurses using a validated self-administered questionnaire. The instrument assessed nurses' knowledge of medication error definitions and reporting procedures, attitudes toward error reporting, and perceived institutional and personal barriers to reporting. Results showed adequate knowledge of medication error concepts in 57.5 percent of respondents. However, only 41.7 percent had a positive attitude toward voluntary reporting, and only 23.3 percent had ever submitted a formal error report. The most prominent barriers included fear of blame from supervisors (66.7 percent), concern about disciplinary action (58.3 percent), and lack of knowledge of reporting procedures (47.5 percent). Nurses who had received formal training on error reporting demonstrated more positive attitudes and higher reporting rates. A punitive organisational culture was the most cited systemic barrier. The study recommends creating a just culture environment for error reporting, providing training on reporting systems, and implementing non-punitive medication safety reporting protocols as institutional quality improvement priorities in Kebbi State hospitals.

Keywords: medication error reporting, nurses, medication safety, Kebbi State, North West Nigeria