WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO PATIENT SAFETY INCIDENT REPORTING IN HOSPITALS? A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Patient safety incidents are the third leading cause of death worldwide. Reporting all incidents is essential to identify problems and develop solutions based on root causes. However, underreporting of medical errors remains a major challenge in improving patient safety. This study aims to examine the factors influencing the reporting of patient safety incidents through a systematic review. The method used follows the PRISMA guidelines, with the aid of Zotero software. Article searches were conducted through PubMed, Science Direct, and ResearchGate databases using a PICO strategy and specific keywords. Out of 15,314 articles identified, only five met the inclusion criteria after a rigorous screening process. The analysis revealed that incident reporting is influenced by various factors, such as managerial support, training, communication, and organizational culture. In addition, there are other factors that are less explored, including perceptions of reporting, fear of peer judgment, time required to fill out reporting forms, and the influence of leadership. These aspects remain debated in the literature. Therefore, further research is needed to explore the barriers and enablers of patient safety incident reporting, particularly among nurses and healthcare professionals in hospital settings.