Path analysis of factors influencing registered nurses' safety behavior in China: A mediation effect model

This study aims to examine the current state, influencing factors, and pathways of safety behavior among registered nurses in China, thereby providing a theoretical framework for enhancing safety behavior levels among registered nurses.

The research involved the recruitment of registered nurses in Chongqing, China, utilizing the snowball sampling technique from July 2022 to May 2023.

A total of 3244 registered nurses from 115 hospitals in Chongqing participated in the study. The mediation effect model demonstrated a good fit, with all variables accounting for 35% of the variance in safety behavior. The most significant influencing variables identified were perceived organizational support, patient safety competency, satisfaction with information systems, and patient safety training, with total effects of .44, .15, .12, and .12, respectively.

The mediation effect model revealed that perceived organizational support has a direct impact on safety behavior and can also influence safety behavior indirectly through patient safety competency. It is crucial to continuously enhance the patient safety competency of registered nurses, cultivate a supportive and compassionate organizational culture, encourage the implementation of safety behavior among nursing personnel, and ultimately ensure patient safety.