Exploring the Influence of Nurse Work Environment and Patient Safety Culture on Attitudes Toward Incident Reporting

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the influence of nurse work environments and patient safety culture on attitudes toward incident reporting. BACKGROUND: Patient safety culture had been known as a factor of incident reporting by nurses. Positive work environment could be an important influencing factor for the safety behavior of nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was used. The structured questionnaire was administered to 191 nurses working at a tertiary university hospital in South Korea. RESULTS: Nurses' perception of work environment and patient safety culture were positively correlated with attitudes toward incident reporting. A regression model with clinical career, work area and nurse work environment, and patient safety culture against attitudes toward incident reporting was statistically significant. The model explained approximately 50.7% of attitudes toward incident reporting. CONCLUSION: Improving nurses' attitudes toward incident reporting can be achieved with a broad approach that includes improvements in work environment and patient safety culture.