간호대학생의 비판적 사고성향과 환자안전역량과의 관계: 의사소통능력의 매개효과

This study aimed to analyze the mediating effect of communication skills on the relationship between critical thinking disposition and patient safety competency among nursing students. The participants included 202 third- and fourth-year nursing students with clinical practice experience from one university in J province and two universities in G city. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires from September 4 to September 13, 2024. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 25.0 program. Differences in patient safety competency according to participants' general characteristics were analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA, with post hoc testing conducted using Scheffé's test. The relationships among critical thinking disposition, communication skills, and patient safety competency were examined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and the mediating effect of communication skills on the relationship between critical thinking disposition and patient safety competency was verified using Hayes's PROCESS macro Model 4 (2022). The analysis revealed that patient safety competency showed a significant positive correlation with both critical thinking disposition (r= .19, p< .01) and communication skills (r= .27, p< .01). Additionally, there was a significant positive correlation between critical thinking disposition and communication skills (r= .22, p< .01). Furthermore, communication skills demonstrated a full mediating effect on the relationship between critical thinking disposition and patient safety competency. This suggests that improving communication skills is essential to positively influence the effect of critical thinking disposition on patient safety competency. Therefore, to enhance patient safety competency among nursing students, it is necessary to develop programs and extracurricular activities that strengthen not only critical thinking disposition but also communication skills, along with diverse educational content.