Evidence Hub

Factors Affecting Patient Safety Near Miss Reporting: A Systematic Review

Asma Alfayez, A. Althumairi, Mona Aljuwair, Danah AlThukair, Duaa I. Aljabri

Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2025

16 citations

Abstract

AIM

To explore individual and organisational factors affecting near-miss reporting in healthcare settings.

DESIGN

Systematic review following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

DATA SOURCES

Five electronic databases from 2013 to 2024 studies published were searched.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Scopus and OpenAlex, covering English, full-text literature from 2013 to 2024. Inclusion criteria focused on studies investigating factors influencing near-miss reporting in healthcare. The risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions tool. Data were synthesised using the Health Belief Model and the Hospital Patient Safety Culture framework.

RESULTS

A total of 20 studies were included. Key individual barriers to near-miss reporting included a lack of knowledge and negative perceptions. Organisational factors, including hospital safety culture, leadership support, error communication, and non-punitive responses to reporting, significantly impacted reporting behaviours.

CONCLUSION

Promoting a structured and supportive reporting culture, educational initiatives, and simplified reporting mechanisms can improve near-miss reporting practices.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE

Improving near-miss reporting practices by addressing identified barriers can lead to safer healthcare environments and better patient outcomes.

IMPACT

This paper addresses a gap in the literature regarding…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free