Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40386124›Full record

ReviewDrug, healthcare and patient safety2025

Enhancing Diagnostic and Patient Safety in Healthcare Systems: Key Insights from the World Patient Safety Day 2024 Commemoration in Uganda.

Munanura Turyasiima, Prima Maria Niwampeire, Martin Ssendyona, Balbina Gillian Akot, Miriam Acheng, Simon Peter Katongole, Joseph Okware, Juliet Tumwikirize, Kenneth Mutesasira, Joshua Atepo and 8 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Drug, healthcare and patient safety, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Munanura TuryasiimaDepartment of Standards Compliance Accreditation and Patient Protection, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0002-2598-5593
Prima Maria NiwampeireThe Aids Support Organization, Kampala, Uganda.
Martin SsendyonaDepartment of Standards Compliance Accreditation and Patient Protection, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Balbina Gillian AkotDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda.
Miriam AchengDivision of Health Information Management, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Simon Peter KatongoleUganda Martyrs University, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0002-5074-3676
Joseph OkwareDepartment of Standards Compliance Accreditation and Patient Protection, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Juliet TumwikirizeDepartment of Standards Compliance Accreditation and Patient Protection, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Kenneth MutesasiraQuality Improvement Office, World Health Organization, Kampala, Uganda.
Joshua AtepoDepartment of Standards Compliance Accreditation and Patient Protection, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Robinah KaitiritimbaThe Uganda National Health Consumers' Organization, Kampala, Uganda.
Joshua EpuitaiDepartment of Nursing, Faculty of Health Services, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda.
Benson Tuhwezeine TumwesigyeDepartment of Standards Compliance Accreditation and Patient Protection, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Gaston TurinaweSTD/AIDS Control Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0002-3040-4853
Robert MutumbaSTD/AIDS Control Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Martin NdifunaJohns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (Jhpeigo), Kampala, Uganda.
Geofrey MusinguziDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Denise Asaba KemigisaDepartment of Standards Compliance Accreditation and Patient Protection, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The 4th World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) 2024 commemoration in Uganda, themed "Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety", highlighted critical challenges and opportunities in reducing diagnostic errors within healthcare systems. This review synthesizes key insights from the event, focusing on factors contributing to diagnostic inaccuracies, systemic gaps, and actionable strategies for improvement. Methods: Using a qualitative synthesis approach guided by the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ), we analyzed data from a hybrid webinar (210 participants) and a four-day medical camp (600+ patients served). Thematic analysis identified four key areas: (i) factors influencing diagnostic errors, (ii) the role of laboratory and imaging services in diagnosis error prevention, (iii) existing health system interventions, and (iv) patient empowerment in the diagnostic process. Results: Diagnostic errors in Uganda stem from cognitive biases, systemic inefficiencies (eg, understaffing, inadequate equipment), and financial barriers in private healthcare. Strengthening laboratory capacity, digitizing health records, and enhancing provider-patient communication emerged as pivotal solutions. The Ministry of Health's initiatives such as laboratory accreditation, the 5S quality improvement framework, and patient feedback mechanisms demonstrate progress but require scaling. Recommendations: We propose a multi-level approach: (1) national policies for error reporting and patient safety frameworks, (2) expanded supportive supervision and digitization (eg, EHRs with decision support), (3) stricter regulation of private healthcare, and (4) community engagement to improve health literacy and early care-seeking. Conclusion: Reducing diagnostic errors demands systemic reforms, technological integration, and collaborative stakeholder engagement. Uganda's WPSD 2024 insights offer a model for similar low-resource settings to enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient safety.

Indexed as

diagnostic errorshealthcare qualitypatient safetyUgandaworld patient safety day

Identifiers

PMID40386124
PMCPMC12085888

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.