The relationship of occupational health literacy, psychological safety, and comprehensive work-related needs with safety climate

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between occupational health literacy, psychological safety and comprehensive work-related needs with safety climate in healthcare workers. The cross-sectional study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki between March 2024 and May 2025 at a public hospital located in the city center of Balıkesir. The sample size was calculated as 834 with a prevalence of 50% and deviation of 3% at 95% confidence level in a population of 3813 people in Epi Info 7.2. programme and 850 people were reached by stratified sampling method. The dependent variable of the research is the level of Safety Climate. In univariate analyses, t test, ANOVA (posthoc: Tukey HSD) and linear regression analysis were used in further analyses. The mean score of the Safety Climate Scale among participants was 60.96±12.45, the Occupational Health Literacy Scale was 83.99±12.86, the Psychological Safety Scale was 23.56±4.46, and the Comprehensive Work-Related Needs Scale was 3.51±0.65. According to the results of the linear regression analysis, the Safety Climate Scale score was statistically significantly lower among individuals working as health/support staff (β= 0.861; 95% CI: 0.08; 1.64) and those who obtained occupational health and safety information through media and friends (β= 4.220; 95% CI: 2.47; 5.96). Furthermore, the Safety Climate Scale score decreased as the duration of employment in the current unit increased (β= -0.287; 95% CI: -0.450; -0.124), as the fulfilment of job requirements decreased (β= 0.116; 95% CI: 0.08; 0.14), as occupational health literacy decreased (β= 0.226; 95% CI: 0.16; 0.28), as psychological safety decreased (β= 0.590; 95% CI: 0.41; 0.76), and as comprehensive work-related needs decreased (β= 1.810; 95% CI: 0.67; 2.94). (R² = 0.310, Adjusted R² = 0.304, F = 53.963, p < 0.001, Durbin-Watson = 2.056). In the study, Occupational Health Literacy, Psychological Safety, and Comprehensive Work-Related Needs were found to be at good levels, while Safety Climate was observed at a moderate level. It is recommended to enhance employees' occupational health literacy, psychological safety, and fulfillment of work-related needs to improve the safety climate in the workplace.