The effect of work interruption in nursing on the culture of patient safety in medication application

This descriptive study was conducted to examine the impact of work interruptions in nursing on the culture of patient safety during medication administration.This study was conducted between June 5 and June 15 2025 with 356 volunteer nurses working in inpatient clinics, intensive care units and emergency department of Trakya University Hospital who volunteered to participate. Data were collected using the "Personal Information Form", "Nursing Work Interruption Scale" and "Culture of Patient Safety in Medication Administration Scale".The mean score for the "Nursing Work Interruption Scale" was calculated as (41.19±12.97). Among its subdimensions the mean score for the human subdimension was 18.69(±7.99) while the mean score for the environment subdimension was (22.50±6.71). The average score for the "Culture of Patient Safety in Medication Administration Scale" was found to be (80.82±11.18). Regarding its subdimensions, the mean scores were (38.19±5.73) for importance, (31.90±4.82) for prevention and (10.73±5.99) for dedication. A statistically significant difference was found in the total score of the "Culture of Patient Safety in Medication Administration Scale" and in the prevention subdimension score according to the gender of the participants (p<0.05). Specifically the female nurses had higher total scores and prevention subdimension scores compared to the male nurses. There was a weak, negative correlation between the total scores of the "Nursing Work Interruption Scale" and "Culture of Patient Safety in Medication Administration Scale" (r=−0.116, p=0.029). Additionally, weak, negative correlations were observed between the human subdimension of "Nursing Work Interruption Scale" and the following: The total score of "Culture of Patient Safety in Medication Administration Scale" (r=−0.148, p=0.005), The importance subdimension (r=−0.105, p=0.047), The prevention subdimension (r=−0.126, p=0.017). It was found that work interruptions in nursing explained 4.1% of the patient safety culture in medication administration (R²=0,041).It was concluded that work interruptions in nursing have an impact on the culture of patient safety during medication administration.