İLYAS ÇELİK, MERYEM KILIÇ
Experimental and Applied Medical Science - 2025;6(1):30-43
This study was planned as a descriptive study to determine the effect of compassion fatigue on medical error tendency in nurses working in intensive care units. The study was conducted between October 2022 and January 2023 in the intensive care units of Bingöl State Hospital and Bingöl Maternity and Children’s Hospital. The study was conducted with 78 nurses. Data were collected through the Personal Information Form, the Compassion Fatigue Short Scale, and the Medical Error Tendency Scale. Data analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis, Pearson correlation, and linear regression tests. The average age of participating nurses was 32.43 (±5.61) years, 56.4% (44) were female, 61.5% (48) had a bachelor’s degree, and 55.1% (43) had worked in intensive care units for 0-5 years. The participants were found to have a moderate level of compassion fatigue (55.96±14.27; min:13-max:130) and a low level of medical error tendency (4.37±.339). Compassion fatigue was found to be significantly higher in nurses who were married and had children. The medical error tendency score was significantly higher in female nurses (p<.05). Although compassion fatigue was found to explain the medical error tendency by 12%, the result was not significant (p=.294). The results of the study showed that compassion fatigue did not affect medical error tendency. It is recommended to increase evidence-based scientific studies to reduce compassion fatigue and medical errors and to develop and implement training programs that empower nurses and enhance their resilience.
