Error communication and analysis in hospitals: the role of leadership and interpersonal climate

Abstract We investigate the mediating role of psychological safety in the relationship between leaders’ coaching behavior and health professionals’ willingness to acknowledge and analyze errors in medical units. We used SEM to test the mediated effect. Results indicate both a direct and an indirect effect of leadership on collective learning behaviors. Our data suggest that capitalizing on past mistakes in order to improve patient safety and quality of care depends on the interpersonal skills of leaders in the medical field and the interpersonal group climate they facilitate.