Relationship Between Perceived Excessive Workload and Medical Error Tendency Among Intensive Care Nurses

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between excessive workloads among nurses in intensive care units and their tendencies toward medical errors, as well as the factors influencing this relationship. Materials and Methods: This study is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study. The study sample consists of nurses (n:105) working in intensive care units at a university teaching and research hospital. The data collection instruments used were a professional and personal information form, the Excessive Workload Scale, and the Medical Errors Tendency Scale in Nursing (METSN). Results: 96.2% of intensive care nurses are women, 61.9% are married, and their average age is 34.42 ± 7.73. 69.5% of the nurses work in Level 3 intensive care units. Intensive care nurses reported that the top three causes of medical errors were long shift duration (88.4%), misunderstanding of physicians’ orders (64.0%), and communication problems within the team (56.5%). The mean score on The Excessive Workload Scale of intensive care nurses was 40.02 ± 7.68, and the mean score on The Medical Error Tendency Scale in Nursing was 231.11 ± 14.98. No correlation was found between the mean scores on The Excessive Workload Scale and the Medical Error Tendency Scale in Nursing (p>0.05). Conclusion: Although nurses’ average excessive workload scores are high, their tendency to make medical errors is low. In this context, it is recommended that the factors associated with medical errors be identified using qualitative research methods.

Keywords

• Intensive care nurse
• intensive care unit
• medical error
• workload

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Izmir Bakırçay University Non-Interventional Clinical Ethics Committee (Date: 25.03.2021, decision no:232). All procedures complied strictly with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Participants were provided with comprehensive information about the study, and written and verbal consent was obtained.

Yoğun Bakım Hemşirelerinde Algılanan Aşırı İş Yükü ile Tıbbi Hata Eğilimi Arasındaki İlişki

Abstract

Amaç: Çalışmanın amacı, yoğun bakımda çalışan hemşirelerin iş yükleri ile tıbbi hata eğilimleri arasındaki ilişkiyi ve etkili faktörleri incelemektir. Materyal ve Metot: Bu çalışma kesitsel tanımlayıcı ve ilişkisel türde bir araştırmadır. Çalışmanın örneklemini, bir üniversite eğitim ve araştırma hastanesinde yoğun bakım ünitelerinde çalışan hemşireler (n=105) oluşturmaktadır. Veri toplama araçları olarak mesleki ve kişisel bilgi formu, Aşırı İş Yükü Ölçeği ve Hemşirelikte Tıbbi Hata Eğilimi Ölçeği (HTHEÖ) kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Yoğun bakım hemşirelerinin %96,2’si kadın, %61,9’u evli ve yaş ortalaması 34,42±7,73’tür. Hemşirelerin %69,5’i 3. basamak yoğun bakımda görev yapmaktadır. Yoğun bakım hemşireleri, tıbbi hataların nedenlerinde ilk üç sırada uzun çalışma saatleri (%88,4), hekim istemlerinin yanlış anlaşılması (%64,0) ve ekip içi iletişim sorunları (%56,5) olduğunu belirtmişlerdir. Yoğun bakım hemşirelerinde Aşırı İş Yükü Ölçeği puan ortalaması 40,02±7,68 ve Hemşirelerin Tıbbi Hata Eğilim Ölçeği puan ortalaması 231,11±14,98’dir. Aşırı İş Yükü Ölçeği ile Hemşirelikte Tıbbi Hata Eğilimi Ölçeği puan ortalamaları arasında bir ilişki bulunmamıştır (p>0,05). Sonuç: Hemşirelerin aşırı iş yükü puan ortalamaları yüksek olmasına rağmen, tıbbi hata eğilimleri düşüktür. Bu kapsamda tıbbi hataya neden olan ilişkili faktörlerin nitel araştırma teknikleri ile ortaya çıkarılması önerilmektedir.

Keywords

• İş yükü
• yoğun bakım hemşireleri
• yoğun bakım ünitesi
• tıbbi hata

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma, İzmir Bakırçay Üniversitesi Girişimsiz Klinik Etik Komitesi tarafından onaylandı (Tarih: 25.03.2021, karar no:232). Tüm prosedürler, Helsinki Deklarasyonu'nun etik ilkelerine sıkı sıkıya uydu. Katılımcılara çalışma hakkında kapsamlı bilgiler verildi ve yazılı ile sözlü onay alındı.

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