Effect of Training on Nurse Awareness Concerning Malpractice Cases

Abstract

ABS TRACT When healthcare professionals carry out direct or indirect technical and scientific procedures on people with the purpose of curing, mitigating or preventing disease, their actions are considered medical interventions. According to Turkish Penal Code, “healthcare professionals” generally means physicians, dentists, pharmaceutists, midwives, nurses and other persons providing healthcare services. These professionals are entitled to perform medical interventions to the extent permitted by law. Medical interventions do not always result in positive outcomes. Due to this reason, nurses may face cases filed against them. The present study aimed to determine nurse awareness of malpractice cases. In this descriptive survey method study, nurses were given training about medical malpractice cases. A questionnaire covering the cases concerning the consequences medical malpractices and other items was implemented before and after the provided training. Prior to the study, 36.0% of the participants had no training or courses on prevention of malpractice. Among the other 64%, most had received only in-service training. The percentage of nurses concerned about being judged or penalized due to medical malpractice was 53% before training and 57% after training. The number of correct answers given by the participants regarding malpractice case outcomes increased in a statistically significant way after training (p=0.000). Increasing nurse awareness about the risks and consequences of medical malpractice may be an important factor in reducing malpractice