Relationship between organizational silence, work-related factors, and nurses’ attitudes toward medical errors: A cross-sectional descriptive study

YALÇIN B., AYAN G., Göktepe N., DARCAN S.

International Journal of Healthcare Management, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/20479700.2026.2677150
  • Journal Name: International Journal of Healthcare Management
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus
  • Keywords: Communication, Medical errors, Nursing attitudes, Organizational silence, Patient safety, Shift work
  • Kütahya Health Sciences University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Medical errors remain a significant threat to patient safety, and organizational silence may influence nurses’ willingness to report errors or raise safety concerns. This study aimed to examine how nurses’ organizational silence behaviors, along with their sociodemographic and work-related characteristics, are associated with their attitudes toward medical errors. A cross-sectional descriptive and correlational study was conducted in a public hospital in Türkiye between February and June 2023. The sample comprised 208 nurses. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Organizational Silence Behavior Scale, and the Scale of Attitudes Toward Medical Errors. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis were used. Overall, nurses reported a generally low level of organizational silence, and among the different types of silence, acquiescent silence was the most pronounced. Their attitudes toward medical errors were broadly positive. The regression analysis showed that silence due to fear, gender, and shift type were significant predictors of attitudes toward medical errors. These findings highlight the importance of fostering psychologically safe environments, reducing fear-driven silence, and supporting open communication to strengthen patient safety practices. Organizational strategies that encourage reporting, ensure supportive leadership, and address shift-related fatigue may improve safety outcomes.