Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of Patient Safety among Undergraduate Medical Students of IIMC

Abstract

Even though the patient safety training is essential for minimizing avoidable harm, it is only occasionally included in undergraduate medical courses.

Objectives
The purpose of this study was

1. to evaluate final-year MBBS students at Islamabad Islamic Medical College (IIMC) about their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) of patient safety
2. To assess the expectations of healthcare professionals regarding patient care at working places.

Methodology
From January to March 2022, a cross-sectional survey was done at IIMC with 178 final-year MBBS students (response rate: 84.2%) using a validated, 25-item questionnaire modified from the WHO Patient Safety Curriculum Guide.  Ethical permission was obtained.  SPSS v21 was used to analyze the data, which included descriptive statistics (frequency, mean) and inferential tests (chi-square, logistic regression).

Results
The majority of pupils showed a moderate understanding of patient safety principles.  Perceptions of the institutional safety culture varied, even though views were generally positive, especially regarding teamwork and error disclosure.  Many students voiced doubts about how to handle errors and have candid conversations about them.  Increased comprehension and trust in putting safety procedures into practice were substantially correlated with clinical exposure.

Conclusion
There is a need for more structured, experiential learning opportunities to reinforce patient safety principles. Integrating simulation, case-based learning, and non-punitive error reporting systems into the curriculum can foster a more safety-oriented healthcare mindset among future physicians.