Promoting Positive Nursing Practice Environments: Outcomes of a Randomized Trial in Primary Care.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety

Background:

• The nursing practice environment significantly impacts care quality, nurse retention, and patient safety.
• Few structured interventions exist to enhance the nursing practice environment.
• This study addresses the need for evidence-based programs to improve nursing work settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Positive Nursing Practice Environment Promotion Program (PPAPEP) effectiveness.
• To assess improvements in primary care nurses' work environment perceptions.
• To examine changes in nurses' attitudes toward patient safety.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial involving 48 primary care nurses.
• Stratified randomization into intervention and control groups.
• Data collected pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up using validated scales.

Main Results:

• The PPAPEP showed modest improvements in nursing practice environment perceptions, particularly in structure and process.
• No significant changes were observed in the safety climate.
• Positive effects on the practice environment showed a slight decrease at follow-up, with a strong correlation between environment perceptions and safety climate.

Conclusions:

• The PPAPEP is effective in enhancing the nursing practice environment.
• Sustained improvements in safety climate require continuous, reinforced interventions and institutional commitment.
• Integrated strategies promoting both work conditions and patient safety are crucial.