The mediating role of pediatric nursing competence in the relationship between pediatric drug administration self-efficacy and medical error tendency in nursing students

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the mediating role of pediatric nursing competence in the relationship between self-efficacy in pediatric drug administration and medical error tendency in nursing students. Background: The self-efficacy of nursing students towards drug administration knowledge and practices is one of the determinants of achieving the goals of nursing education programs related to drug administration. Design: The sample of the descriptive and correlational study consisted of a total of 303 3rd and 4th-year students taking the Pediatric Health and Diseases Nursing course at the Department of Nursing. Data were collected using the Pediatric Nursing Competency Scale (PNCS), the Medication Administration Self-Efficacy Scale in Children for Nursing Students (MASSC) and the Medical Errors Tendency Scale (METS). Pearson correlation analysis, linear regression analysis, independent groups t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc (Tukey, LSD) test were used to analyze the data. In addition, hierarchical regression analyses regarding the mediation effect were performed using PROCESS Model 4 developed by Hayes (2013) for SPSS. Results: When the correlation levels between the total scores of MASSC, PNSC and METS were analyzed, a positive moderate correlation was found between PNSC and MASSC total scores, a positive weak correlation was found between METS and MASSC total scores and a positive weak correlation was found between METS and PNSC total scores (p<0.05). As a result of the analysis, the model was found to be significant and the total change in METS was explained by 17.3 % of the total change in METS (F=63.289;p=0.000). =63.289;p =0.000). It was found that PNSC was a partial mediator variable between MASSC and METS. Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was determined that pediatric nursing competence had a partial mediating role in the relationship between pediatric drug administration self-efficacy and medical error tendency in nursing students.