From control to action: understanding nurses' proactivity in health crises

This study investigates the influence of service science education on nurses' locus of control, attitude and proactive behavior in response to health crises caused by recurring infectious disease outbreaks, thus addressing the relevance of proactive behavior among nurses to avert health crises.

The study utilizes the theory of planned behavior and proactive motivation theory to address the relationship between locus of control, attitude and proactive behavior in averting health crises. The study obtained data from nurses in Nigeria; 415 valid responses were obtained. The measurement model was evaluated to ensure the validity of constructs, while the structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to test the hypothesized relationships between variables.

The findings confirm that locus of control positively and significantly influences nurses' attitudes and proactive behavior. Attitude positively and significantly mediates the relationship between locus of control and nurses' proactive behavior. Proactive behavior has a significant positive relationship with averting health crises. Service science education did not moderate the relationship between locus of control and attitude.

This study integrates motivational (locus of control) and educational (service science education) factors to explain nurses' proactive behavior during health crises. It fills a gap by showing attitude's mediating role between locus of control and proactive behavior, often overlooked in prior research. The research informs nursing education and training programs aimed at fostering an internal locus of control and positive attitudes, enhancing healthcare workers' psychological readiness and crisis responsiveness.