The effect of a brief mindfulness-based stress reduction program on strengthening awareness of medical errors and risks among nursing students

Abstract

Information: Healthcare professionals' awareness of medical errors and risks results in effective medical error reporting and patient safety. Mindfulness has positive effects on strengthening attention and awareness. How-ever, little is known about the use of mindfulness in patient safety education among nursing students. This study aimed to examine if a brief mindfulness-based stress reduction program would have a beneficial impact on (a) medical error attitudes, (b) the number of medical errors and risks in a simulation environment, and (c) self-confidence and satisfaction among nursing students.Methods: A quasi-experimental design with a control group was conducted with 78 third-year nursing students at a private, accredited, nursing program in Istanbul, Turkiye.Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in the intervention group between the pre-test and post-test for medical error attitudes (p < 0.001), and the number of medical errors and risks in a simulation envi-ronment (p < 0.001). There was no statistical difference in the intervention and control groups for self-confidence and satisfaction (p > 0.05).Conclusion: These results suggest that a brief mindfulness-based stress reduction program positively strengthens nursing students' awareness of medical errors and risks.