{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T06:04:21Z","timestamp":1790229861986,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790208000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Health Serv."],"abstract":"\n Background<\/jats:title>\n Adverse events refer to incidents or mistakes that cause harm to patients due to medical management, rather than being a result of the patient's illness or its complications. These events can occur at any point during the care process. Reporting adverse events is a key strategy in their prevention, and having a clear understanding of what qualifies as an adverse event, along with the correct reporting procedures, is essential for ensuring effective reporting practices.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Aim<\/jats:title>\n This study explored the extent to which professional nurses at selected public hospitals in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa understand adverse events and the reporting procedures of adverse events.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Method<\/jats:title>\n A qualitative exploratory-descriptive design was employed. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 26 professional nurses, selected using purposive sampling. Data were analysed thematically using both deductive and Tesch's open coding method.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n While most participants demonstrated awareness of adverse events and reporting processes, notable knowledge gaps were identified. Some participants did not understand what constitute an adverse event and conflated adverse events with near misses. Additionally, inconsistencies regarding reporting procedures, responsible personnel for reporting and reporting timelines were evident.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n The study revealed insufficient knowledge among professional nurses regarding adverse events, reporting procedures, and different types of patient safety incidents. To address these gaps, targeted educational interventions and reinforcement of standard operating procedures are recommended to enhance reporting practices and promote patient safety.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/frhs.2026.1951525","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T05:43:30Z","timestamp":1790228610000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Exploring the knowledge gaps and reporting procedures for adverse events among professional nurses: evidence from Mopani district, Limpopo province, South Africa"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"6","author":[{"given":"Manyoga Blantina","family":"Mathoto","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing Science, University of Limpopo","place":["Mankweng, South Africa"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tebogo Maria","family":"Mothiba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Limpopo","place":["Mankweng, South Africa"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Masenyani Oupa","family":"Mbombi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing Science, University of Limpopo","place":["Mankweng, South Africa"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mxolisi Welcome","family":"Ngwenya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing Science, University of Limpopo","place":["Mankweng, South Africa"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Livhuwani","family":"Muthelo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing Science, University of Limpopo","place":["Mankweng, South Africa"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","year":""},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-018-3335-z","article-title":"The occurrence, types, consequences and preventability of in-hospital adverse events\u2013a scoping review","volume":"18","author":"Schwendimann","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-59403-9_8","article-title":"Patient safety in the world","volume-title":"Textbook of Patient safety and Clinical risk Management","author":"Dhingra-Kumar","year":"2021"},{"key":"B4","volume-title":"Creating a Culture of Transformational leadership to Decrease inpatient Falls","author":"Cusick","year":"2023"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1858","DOI":"10.4102\/hsag.v27i0.1858","article-title":"Second victim experiences of healthcare providers after adverse events: a cross-sectional study","volume":"27","author":"Mathebula","year":"2022","journal-title":"Health SA Gesondheid"},{"key":"B6","volume-title":"World Health Assembly, 72. 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