Perception of “Just Culture” and Willingness to Report Medication Errors Among Jordanian Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Healthcare institutions aim to enhance medication error reporting. A “just culture” is recognized as a safety subculture, with numerous studies affirming its contribution to improving safety standards in hospitals. However, its influence on motivating nurses to report medication errors remains ambiguous. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the perception of “just culture” and the willingness to report medication errors among nurses in Jordanian hospitals, as well as to examine the relationship between Jordanian nurses’ perception of “just culture” and their willingness to report medication errors. Methods: A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted in four Jordanian hospitals using self-report questionnaires. A convenience sample of 190 nurses participated in this study. Data were collected using an online survey platform using the Just Culture Assessment Tool (JCAT) to assess the perception of “just culture,” and hypothetical scenarios were employed to determine the nurses’ willingness to report medication errors. Results: The majority of participants were female (70%), held a bachelor’s degree (88.4%), and had 1–10 years of experience (77%). The findings indicated that nurses perceived their units as having a high degree of “just culture” (114.05 out of 189). However, more than two-thirds of the nurses (n = 131, 68.9%) expressed an unwillingness to report their own medication errors. The study also identified a weak positive correlation between “just culture” and willingness to report medication errors (r = 0.192, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The study’s findings provide essential evidence for nursing managers and supervisors to develop policies and strategies that foster a “just culture,” which may significantly influence nurses’ willingness to report medication errors. The culture of blame must be replaced with a culture of trust and accountability. Reported errors and incidents should be viewed as opportunities for learning and improvement, with lessons learned being disseminated across hospitals to prevent future occurrences. Educators should incorporate “just culture” into the nursing curriculum, enhance the learning environment, and prepare nursing students to address the challenges of patient care and safety issues.