OBJECTIVE: Prospective and exploratory study in order to identify the comprehension of nursing and medicine students from a public university of São Paulo regarding human error and patient safety. METHODS: It was investigated variables concerning the characterization of students and, attitudinal and conceptual aspects. The study sample was composed by 109 students who answered an electronic form. RESULTS: The majority of students answered that they had had formal learning about patient safety and show actions that demonstrate uncertainty about what would be correct in some practices. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that students understand and associate some aspects from formal learning about the theme patient safety to experiences during curricular stages.
Education; Patient safety; Nursing; Students, nursing, Students, medical
