Table 3 Deficits of own communication and how to deal with them. Multiple responses possible

If you forgot something you were told once in patient care, why didn’t you ask again?

 “There wasn’t time.”

34.7% (44)

35.3% (207)

0.83

 “There are too many tasks I have to handle at the same time.”

62.1% (79)

57.8% (339)

0.42

 “I don’t want to seem unfocused.”

16.8% (22)

14.1% (83)

0.38

 “I don’t want to seem incompetent.”

28.4% (36)

15.5% (91)

< 0.01

 “I think inquiring is unnecessary.”

3.2% (4)

5.2% (30)

0.33

 “I’ve never forgotten anything.”

9.5% (12)

14.3% (84)

0.13

Imagine you misspoke in patient care and there was harm to the patient because of it (e.g., you requested amiodarone when you meant epinephrine). How do you feel afterwards?

 “I feel bad because well-trained staff shouldn’t make mistakes.”

85.7% (110)

84.9% (498)

0.78

 “I don’t think it’s a bad thing because mistakes are part of everyday life.”

8.4% (11)

12.0% (70)

0.27

 “I don’t want to look bad in front of colleagues.”

18.5% (24)

10.9% (64)

0.01

 “I feel ashamed”

47.1% (60)

35.5% (208)

0.01

 “I am afraid of sanctions”

42.9% (55)

28.7% (168)

< 0.01