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AIMS Public Health

2025, Volume 12, Issue 2: 378-398. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2025022
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Research article Special Issues

Examining psychosocial risks and their impact on nurses' safety attitudes and medication error rates: A cross-sectional study

  • 1.
    Laboratory of Education and Research of Trauma Care and Patient Safety; Department of Nursing, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
  • 2.
    Department of Management Science and Technology, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
  • 3.
    Nursing Department, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
  • 4.
    Department of Nursing, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
  • Published: 20 March 2025
  • Introduction 

    Employee exposure to specific risks often increases work-related stress, negatively impacting their effectiveness and potentially leading to illnesses, mistakes, or accidents.

    Objective 

    We aimed to determine the psychosocial risks experienced by nurses in tertiary hospitals and their association with attitudes toward safety and the occurrence of medication errors.

    Methods 

    A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2023 in four Greek tertiary hospitals (Evangelismos, Nikaia “Agios Panteleimon”, University Hospital of Larissa, and “G. Papanikolaou”). The study involved 514 nurses aged 20–67, employed for at least 12 months, fluent in Greek, and completing questionnaires on stress, burnout, and medication errors. The questionnaire used in the study included demographic information of the nursing staff (age, gender, marital status, work experience, and education level), characteristics of the nursing unit (medical, surgical, long-term care unit, Intensive Care Unit), the COPSOQ III (Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire Version III), the HSOPSC (Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture), and the questionnaire for Investigating Nursing Errors in Medication Administration.

    Results 

    Nurses exposed to psychosocial risks, such as bullying and high demands, reported increased medication errors. Supportive work environments with sufficient staffing and collaborative culture significantly mitigated these risks. Factors such as “Staffing” and “Handoffs” partially mediated the relationship between demands and errors. Thus, targeted interventions to reduce bullying and enhance teamwork are essential. Continuous education emerged as crucial for improving safety and performance.

    Conclusion 

    The study underscores the necessity of social support, job autonomy, and work-life balance as critical factors in reducing stress and improving the quality of care. Specific strategies are proposed to enhance nurses' mental health and improve working conditions.

    Citation: Vasileios Tzenetidis, Aristomenis Kotsakis, Mary Gouva, Konstantinos Tsaras, Maria Malliarou. Examining psychosocial risks and their impact on nurses' safety attitudes and medication error rates: A cross-sectional study[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2025, 12(2): 378-398. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2025022

    Related Papers:

  • Introduction 

    Employee exposure to specific risks often increases work-related stress, negatively impacting their effectiveness and potentially leading to illnesses, mistakes, or accidents.

    Objective 

    We aimed to determine the psychosocial risks experienced by nurses in tertiary hospitals and their association with attitudes toward safety and the occurrence of medication errors.

    Methods 

    A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2023 in four Greek tertiary hospitals (Evangelismos, Nikaia “Agios Panteleimon”, University Hospital of Larissa, and “G. Papanikolaou”). The study involved 514 nurses aged 20–67, employed for at least 12 months, fluent in Greek, and completing questionnaires on stress, burnout, and medication errors. The questionnaire used in the study included demographic information of the nursing staff (age, gender, marital status, work experience, and education level), characteristics of the nursing unit (medical, surgical, long-term care unit, Intensive Care Unit), the COPSOQ III (Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire Version III), the HSOPSC (Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture), and the questionnaire for Investigating Nursing Errors in Medication Administration.

    Results 

    Nurses exposed to psychosocial risks, such as bullying and high demands, reported increased medication errors. Supportive work environments with sufficient staffing and collaborative culture significantly mitigated these risks. Factors such as “Staffing” and “Handoffs” partially mediated the relationship between demands and errors. Thus, targeted interventions to reduce bullying and enhance teamwork are essential. Continuous education emerged as crucial for improving safety and performance.

    Conclusion 

    The study underscores the necessity of social support, job autonomy, and work-life balance as critical factors in reducing stress and improving the quality of care. Specific strategies are proposed to enhance nurses' mental health and improve working conditions.



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    Acknowledgments


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    Authors' contribution


    Conceptualization: M.M. and V.T.; methodology: M.M.; formal analysis: A.K; investigation, methodology, review: V.T; resources: V.T.; data curation: V.T.; writing—original draft preparation: V.T.; writing—review and editing: V.T, M.G and K.T.; supervision: M.M; project administration: V.T and M.M.; All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

    Conflict of interest


    Maria Malliarou is a guest editor of AIMS Public Health Special Issue. She was not involved in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article. All authors declare that there are no competing interests.

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