title: German undergraduate medical students' attitudes and needs regarding medical errors and patient safety--a national survey in Germany.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Errors in medicine and patient safety are topics with growing scientific and public attention. In undergraduate medical education, these issues are little investigated so far. The aim of this study was to collect data regarding attitudes and needs of medical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a sample of 269 German medical students, data were collected using an anonymous online questionnaire. It consisted of three parts: (1) international validated questionnaire, (2) questions about the German medical education system and (3) demographic data. Data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred sixty-seven data sets were analysed (completion rate 62%). Twenty-five percent of the respondents stated that they already had committed a medical error. Almost half of the participants reported that they had been assigned tasks they had not been qualified for (47%), or where medical errors could have happened easily (50%). Final year students showed less confidence in error disclosure compared to younger students (p < 0.001). The majority of respondents (64%) wished for more education on the issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With regard to future curricular developments, a consideration of attitudes and needs of medical students regarding the topics of medical errors and patient safety seems necessary. A goal-directed undergraduate education can promote an open culture and can lead to safety and satisfaction for both patients and medical professionals.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig-Maximilians-University , Germany and.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kiesewetter
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kager
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lux
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zwissler
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dietz
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004282:Documentation; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005858:Germany; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D061214:Patient Safety; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*