Patient safety in Brazilian medical education: An integrative review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Patient safety has been widely discussed in healthcare systems, as adverse events cause unnecessary harm and may substantially increase costs. One of the strategies to improve patient safety in healthcare organizations involves integrating it into the education of future professionals and preparing them to deliver higher-quality and safer care. This study aimed to understand how patient safety is addressed during medical education in Brazil. METHOD: An integrative review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines in April 2026, using the descriptors: Patient Safety, Students, Medical, Universities, Curriculum, and Education, Medical, Undergraduate in the LILACS, MEDLINE, and SciELO databases, resulting in 11 selected articles. RESULTS: The studies were published between 2015 and 2024, with a predominance of quantitative or quantitative–qualitative designs (45%). Nine articles (82%) directly addressed patient safety, while two approached it indirectly. DISCUSSION: The findings were grouped into four categories: (1) realistic simulation as a teaching tool (27%), enhancing motivation, teamwork, communication, self-confidence, and integration of theory and practice; (2) safety culture and error reporting (45%), emphasizing just culture, error reporting, and continuous learning as key elements for improving understanding and management of errors; (3) insufficient coverage of patient safety in medical education (45%), highlighting gaps in addressing the topic, particularly medical errors, and the need for faculty development; and (4) interdisciplinary approaches (36%), underscoring the importance of interprofessional education and greater curricular standardization. CONCLUSION: The approach to patient safety in Brazilian medical education remains incipient and fragmented. Strategies for its inclusion should be implemented in higher education institutions in order to contribute to improved outcomes, as well as greater quality and safety in healthcare delivery.