Reasons for under-reporting and strategies to improve
reporting .
Reasons for underreporting were highlighted at the initial
national-level consultative meeting and the pre-interventional phase
KIIs and FGDs. Exemplifying quotes are presented below.
“Although we have a designated Directorate for Healthcare Quality
and Safety, policies and guidelines, the HCWs’ negative attitudes of
HCWs contribute a lot to the reporting of near-misses. They think, “Why
should we report?” and “Reporting will highlight our mistakes.” If we
want to improve reporting, we should include the importance of
near-misses and reporting of those in the undergraduate and postgraduate
curricular of HCWs,’ and they should be given a good orientation about
these at the time of recruitment.” (DHQS- A)“At [an] institutional level, lack of staff (designated
medical officers for hospital QMUs), and frequent transfers of trained
staff are significant barriers to reporting, because to maintain a
successful reporting system, there should be a designated person who can
monitor, analyse and provide feedback on the reports. In addition, HCWs’
ignorance and negative attitudes are also barriers.” (DGH Avissawella-
B).