The mediating role of pediatric nursing competence in the relationship between pediatric drug administration self-efficacy and medical error tendency in nursing students

Aim: This research was conducted to determine the mediating role of pediatric nursing competence in the relationship between pediatric drug administration self-efficacy and medical error tendency in nursing students. Materials and Method: The sample of the descriptive and correlational study consisted of a total of 303 3rd and 4th year students taking the Pediatric Health and Diseases Nursing course at Ordu University, Karadeniz Technical University and Kafkas University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing. Data were collected using the Descriptive Information Form, the Pediatric Nursing Competency Scale (PNCS), the Medication Adminstration Self-Efficacy Scale in Children for Nursing Students (MASSC) and the Medical Errors Tendency Scale (METS). Descriptive statistical methods, Pearson correlation analysis, linear regression analysis, independent groups t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc (Tukey, LSD) test were used to analyse the data. In addition, hierarchical regression analyses regarding the mediation effect were performed using PROCESS Model 4 developed by Hayes (2013) for SPSS. P<0.05 was used in statistical calculations. Results: The mean PNSC total score of the students was 149.469±18.904, the mean MASSC total score was 59.845±10.836, and the mean METS total score was 217.017±26.634. When the correlation levels between the total scores of MASSC, PNCS and METS were analysed, a positive moderate correlation was found between PNCS and MASSC total scores, a positive weak correlation was found between METS and MASSC total scores, and a positive weak correlation was found between METS and PNCS total scores (p<0.05). As a result of the analysis, the model was found to be significant and the total change on METS was explained by 17.3% of the total change on METS (F=63.289; p=0.000). It was determined that PNCS was a partial mediator variable between MASSC and METS. Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was determined that pediatric nursing competence had a partial mediator role in the relationship between pediatric medication self-efficacy and medical error tendency in nursing students. Keywords: Pediatric Nursing, Student, Drug Administration, Self-efficacy, Medical Error