Mediating Effects of Job Satisfaction between Nurses’ Perceptions of Patient Safety Culture and Their Safety Nursing Activities

Abstract

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the mediating effects of job satisfaction in the relationship between nurses’ perceptions of patient safety culture and safety nursing activities.Methods: Data for this study were collected using a structured questionnaire from 219 nurses recruited through convenience sampling among nurses at the general wards of four small and medium-sized hospitals with fewer than 300 beds. The data collection period was between September 11 and 28, 2018. Data were analyzed using multiple regression and the Sobel test in SPSS 25.0 for Windows.Results: The mean score was 3.14 out of 5 points for patient safety culture, 3.21 out of 5 points for job satisfaction, and 4.10 out of 5 points for safety nursing activities. Patient safety culture was significantly correlated with job satisfaction (r=.55, <i>p</i><.001) and safety nursing activities (r=.48, <i>p</i><.001). Job satisfaction was significantly correlated with safety nursing activities (r=.55, <i>p</i><.001). Nurses' perceptions of patient safety culture (β=.48, <i>p</i><.001) and job satisfaction (β=.42, <i>p</i><.001) were identified as significant predictors of safety nursing activities. Job satisfaction had a partial mediating effect in the relationship between nurses’ perceptions of patient safety culture and safety nursing activities. These variables explained 35% of the variance in safety nursing activities.Conclusion: Improving nurses’ perceptions of patient safety culture and job satisfaction, which had a partial mediating effect, can promote safety nursing activities.