Medication Safety Competence and Its Related Factors among ICU Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Medication Safety Competence (MSC) refers to the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to prevent medication errors. Assessing MSC in ICU nurses is essential due to high-risk medications and complex patient conditions.Aim: The present study was conducted with aim to determine the MSC status and its related factors among nurses working in ICUs.Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in ۲۰۲۴ on ۲۳۹ ICU nurses at teaching hospitals in Zanjan, Iran. Participants were recruited using a stratified random sampling. Data were collected through a demographic-occupational questionnaire and the MSC Scale (MSCS). Analysis of data was performed using SPSS software (version ۱۶) and independent samples t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), multiple linear regression, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and chi-square test. p<۰.۰۵ was considered significant.Results: The mean of MSC scores among the ICU nurses was ۱۵۴.۸۹ ± ۱۳.۵۰ (range: ۱۱۴–۱۸۰), indicating a satisfactory level of MSC according to the scale (۱۵۱–۱۸۰). Multiple regression analysis showed that rotating shifts (β= -۵.۱۱۸, p=۰.۰۰۶) and hospital type (β= ۴.۳۵۲, p=۰.۰۲۷) were significantly associated with MSC. Additionally, there was a weak but statistically significant correlation between MSC and total work experience (r= ۰.۱۳۰, p=۰.۰۴۴), suggesting that more experienced nurses may have slightly higher MSC.Implications for Practice: ICU nurses demonstrated a satisfactory level of medication safety competence based on the average MSC score. Less experienced nurses and those working rotating shifts showed lower competence, indicating the need for targeted training and proper shift management.

کلیدواژه ها:

Intensive Care Units ، Medication safety competence ، nurse ، Patient safety