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Abstract

Background: Patient safety and quality of care are fundamental priorities in healthcare systems worldwide, and incident reporting serves as a key mechanism for upholding these standards. By documenting adverse events, near misses, and medical errors, healthcare institutions can identify potential risks, strengthen clinical practices, and introduce preventive strategies to ensure safer patient care. Objective of the study is to identify the key factors that prevent nurses from reporting incidents in a Tertiary Care Hospital Lahore.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Lahore General Hospital between April and August 2025. The study included 200 registered nurses, selected through convenience sampling, who met the inclusion criteria of having at least six months of clinical experience. The sample size was calculated using Slovin’s formula with a 5% margin of error. Data were collected through a structured, self-administered questionnaire designed to explore barriers to incident reporting. Ethical principles were maintained by ensuring informed consent and participant anonymity. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, applying both descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and chi-square tests, to examine factors influencing reporting practices.
Results: The study included 200 registered nurses, most of whom were between 36 and 50 years of age (31.5%), followed by 30% in the 51–65 age group. The majority were female (71%) and held a Generic BSN degree (38%). Regarding professional experience, 37% had 5–6 years of clinical practice. Institutional barriers to incident reporting were prominent, with 85% citing an inadequate reporting system, 81% noting the absence of clear procedures, and 76.5% identifying staff shortages. On a personal level, 73% of nurses expressed concerns about anonymity, 61.5% reported uncertainty about what incidents should be reported, and 54% feared being blamed. Collectively, these findings highlight substantial institutional and individual challenges that hinder effective medical error reporting.
Conclusion: The findings reveal notable barriers to incident reporting among nurses, encompassing institutional challenges such as ineffective reporting systems and personal concerns including fear of blame and limited knowledge. Overcoming these obstacles is essential to enhancing the accuracy, transparency, and overall effectiveness of incident reporting within healthcare settings.