Table 3.
Medical Error Experience and Perceived Prevalence
| Question and Response | Frequency | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Do you have personal experience with medical errors? | ||
| Yes | 136 | 31.5% |
| No | 296 | 68.5% |
| If yes, what was the outcome of the medical error? | ||
| Death | 31 | 19.9% |
| Permanent disability | 31 | 19.9% |
| Temporary disability | 4 | 2.6% |
| Pain | 26 | 16.7% |
| Physical or psychological suffering | 39 | 25.0% |
| Wasted time and money | 25 | 16.0% |
| In your opinion, what is the most common type of medical error? | ||
| Misdiagnosis | 240 | 55.6% |
| Delay in diagnosis | 32 | 7.4% |
| Incorrect prescription or dispensing of medications | 46 | 10.6% |
| Surgical errors | 98 | 22.7% |
| Investigational or laboratory errors | 16 | 3.7% |
| In your opinion, how common are medical errors? | ||
| Very common | 55 | 12.7% |
| Common | 212 | 49.1% |
| Unsure | 107 | 24.8% |
| Uncommon | 43 | 10.0% |
| Very uncommon | 15 | 3.5% |
Note: Percentages are rounded.