The effect of broken windows theory on occupational health and safety practices performance of healthcare workers

The purpose of this research is to examine the effect of the Broken Windows Theory (BCT) on the performance of healthcare workers regarding occupational health and safety (OHS) practices. The lack of any studies in the national literature examining these two variables together demonstrates the originality of the research and contributes to the literature. The study was conducted using descriptive and relational survey designs, which are quantitative research methods. Data were collected using a survey. The study population consisted of 1,384 healthcare workers working in all healthcare institutions affiliated with the Ardahan Provincial Health Directorate. Data were obtained from 407 healthcare workers selected through convenience sampling. A socio-demographic information form, the Broken Windows Scale, and the Occupational Health and Safety Application Performance Scale were used as data collection tools. Frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, normality tests, reliability analyses, and difference analyses were applied in the analysis of the collected data. Correlation and regression analyses were also conducted to determine the relationships between variables.According to the research findings, it was determined that the participants' perception levels of BW were "very low" and their perception levels of OSH were "high." Participants' perception levels of BW showed a statistically significant difference in terms of variables such as gender, institution of employment, total working hours, adequacy and supervision of OSH activities carried out by the state (p<0.05). On the other hand, significant differences in OSH perception levels were found between the groups in terms of variables such as age, educational status, institution of employment, position/title, department/unit, witnessing a work-related accident, and adequacy and supervision of OSH activities carried out by the state (p<0.05).The correlation analysis revealed a statistically significant, negative and very weak relationship (r = -0.237, p < 0.001) between the BW and OHSA variables. It was determined that KC had a negligible (1%) effect on OHSA (r = -0.542, p < 0.001).