The effect of training given to nurses in line with the causal attribution theory on their determining the causes of medical error

Aim: Aim of in this study, to determine the effect of causal attribution training given to nurses on their making correct causal attributions as to medical errors. Material and Method: The universe of this study, patient treatment units nurses at Bingöl State and Elazığ Training and Research Hospital (N=675) had made as a real trial model with pre-test and post-test control groups (N=675). The power analysis methods was carried out to construct the research sample and the sample size was determined as at least of 176 nurses which of 88 experimental and 88 control groups, respectively. Nurses were selected to the sample group with simple random sampling methods from probability sampling methods. The study was completed with 80 experimental and 80 control group, respectively. The data were collected between 1 January 2016 and 1 April 2016, and Personal Information Form and Causal Dimensions Scale-II were used in the data collection process. In accordance with the Causal Attribution Theory, nurses in the experimental group were given the training of "Determining Nurses' Medical Errors" by the researcher. Those in the control group were not subjected to any training. Number, percentage, average, standard deviation, chi-square, dependent sample t test, independent sample t test and Cronbach's Alpha were used in the assessment of the data. Results: As a result of in this study, in the intergroup comparison of final average test scores in experimental and control groups, there were statistically significant differences among groups in terms of average scores of Stability sub-dimension in Causal Dimensions Scale-II (p>0.05). There was also statistically significant difference among groups in terms of final average test scores of the sub-dimensions of Causality Focus and Personal Control in experimental and control group (p=0.005, p=0.000, p=0.002). Conclusion: Following the training given to experimental group in line with the Causal Attribution Theory, it was determined that there was consistency in nurses' attributions to the causes of their medical errors (e.g. increase in scores of sub-dimension of causality focus, and decrease in scores of the sub-dimension of stability). Key Words: Nurse, Causal Attribution Theory, Causes of Medical Errors.