Knowledge sharing behaviour among critical care nurse specialists: A cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• Specialist knowledge among critical care nurses is a vital asset for healthcare teams.
• Understanding factors influencing knowledge sharing is crucial for optimizing its utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the knowledge sharing behaviors of critical care nurse specialists.
• To identify key factors that influence these knowledge sharing behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling of critical care nurse specialists across three Chinese provinces (Oct 2018 - Jun 2019).
• Validated instruments included the Practice Environment Scale, Competency Inventory for Registered Nurses, Knowledge Self-efficacy Scale, and a knowledge sharing behavior scale.

Main Results:

• The average knowledge sharing behavior score was 64.84 ± 11.53.
• Regression analysis revealed that education level, position, nurse involvement in hospital affairs, knowledge, self-efficacy, sex, night shifts, years of experience, employment type, leadership skills, critical thinking, and resources explained 45.9% of the variance in knowledge sharing behavior.

Conclusions:

• Critical care nurse specialists demonstrate a low level of knowledge sharing behavior.
• Interventions targeting identified influencing factors are recommended to enhance knowledge sharing among these specialists.