The relationship between nurses fear of COVID-19, professional commitment and tendencies to medical errors

Derya ŞİMŞEKLİ BAKIRHAN¹, Mehtap TAN²

1. Ardahan University, Vocational School of Health Services, Lecturer, Atatürk University Internal Medicine,Turkey
2. Atatürk University, Faculty of Nursing, Department of Internal Medicine Nursing, Turkey

Corresponding author; Derya ŞİMŞEKLİ BAKIRHAN1; Email address: deryasimsekli95@gmail.com

Abstract
Aim
This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between nurses’ fear of COVID-19, professional commitment and medical error tendency.
Methods
This study was use correlational research design with 312 nurses in January-April 2021. Data were collected online using a demographic characteristics questionnaire, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), the Professional Commitment Scale (PCS), and the Scale of Tendency to Medical Errors (STME). The study was approved by ethics committee. Number, mean, and standard deviation were used for sociodemographic variables. Participants’ FCV-19S, PCS, and STME scores were calculated. The correlations between scale scores were determined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Spearman correlation analysis.
Results
Participants had a mean FCV-19S, PCS, and STME score of 19±8.17, 72.21±13.58, and 4.58±0.51, respectively. FCV-19S scores were weakly and positively correlated with PCS overall score (r=0.200, p<0.001), ‘’willingness to make an effort (r=0.273, p<0.001)’’ and ‘’belief in goals and values (r=0.115, p=0.043)’’ subscale scores. FCV-19S scores were weakly and positively correlated with STME “communication (r=0.119, p=0.036)” subscale score.
Conclusion
Nurses who feared more about COVID-19 were found to have higher professional commitment, greater willingness to make an effort, and stronger belief in goals and values. Nurses who feared more COVID-19 were less likely to make communication-related medical errors.

Keywords: COVID-19, Fear, Professional Commitment, Nurses, Medical Error