Evaluation of the relationship between mental fatigue level and tendency to make medical errors

Title: Evaluation of the Relationship Between Mental Fatigue Level and Tendency to Make Medical Errors. Aim: This study was conducted to determine the mental fatigue level of nurses and the factors affecting the mental fatigue level, and to examine the relationship between mental fatigue level and tendency to make medical errors. Method: The research was a descriptive and cross-sectional design. The research was carried out with nurses working at Eskişehir Osmangazi University Health Practice and Research Hospital between 01.01.2023 and 15.03.2023. Inclusion criteria for the study are nurses who are willing to participate and work in the emergency services and clinics. Individual Identification Form, Mental Fatigue Scale, and Medical Error Tendency Scale were used to collect data. Data were collected by the researcher using face-to-face interview techniques, in nurses/resting rooms. Results: The mean score of the nurses' Mental Fatigue Scale was 16.47±7.94. 72.7% of the nurses included in the study were mentally tired. It was determined that the factors affecting the mental fatigue of the nurses were educational status, income status, the unit and the working time in the unit, the presence of leisure pursuits, and the presence of a diagnosed disease. The total mean score of the nurses' tendency to make medical errors was 225.07±19.53. According to this mean score, it was determined that the tendency of nurses to make medical errors was low. Although there was no relationship between the mental fatigue level of nurses and their tendency to make medical mistakes, it was determined that the tendency not to make mistakes in drug and transfusion practices increased the level of mental fatigue. Conclusion: Most of the nurses were mentally tired and the mental fatigue of the nurses is affected by their education level, income level, unit, working time in the unit, having any leisure pursuits, and the presence of a diagnosed disease. It was determined that mental fatigue did not affect the tendency to make medical errors.