Background and purpose: There has been no objective evaluation of the rate of medical errors in Ïran it seems a disproportionate attitude is the main hindrance to reporting of such errors. Çonsidering the role of the chief managers in executive functioning of every institution, this study has been carried out with the aim of surveying the attitude of chief managers of Mazandaran Üniversity of Medical Sciences towards voluntary report of medical errors.
Materials and methods: Ïn this descriptive cross-sectional study, chiefs, managers, chief nurses, supervisors and head-nurses from 32 hospitals affiliated to Mazandaran Üniversity of Medical Sciences took part. Â self-sufficing questionnaire in two sections containing closed questions, in order to determine experience of medical errors and also to study their attitude towards voluntary report system of medical errors in hospitals was implemented. The questionnaire was based on a review of studies and had validity and reliability of 79% in a pilot study.
Results: Ïn this study, out of 278 (54 %) of questionnaires collected, 110 (39.6%) managers had experienced medical error, 190 (%68.4) stated that in the hospital they work, errors are reported. Most chief managers (%95.7) thought that reporting the medical errors would improve patient safety. 89.6 % of the managers suggested the need for a different approach in executive policies. Majority of responders (%85) disagreed with an absolute punishment policy, in case of a medical error.
Çonclusion: Most hospital managers are in favor of a system for reporting and analyzing the medical errors. Ït seems that establishing a systematic and non-individual reporting and assessing the errors is a crucial step forward.

Keywords: Patient safety, Ïncident report, medical error, attitude

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