Correlation between patients' power distance and their willingness to participate in patients' safety: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Aims This study aimed to explore the correlation between patient power distance and their willingness to participate in patient safety. Background The positive significance of patient participation in patient safety has been widely recognized worldwide, but in clinical practice, patients' willingness to participate is uneven and lack of initiative. Methods This study is a cross‐sectional survey of hospitalized patients (n = 660) from six tertiary hospitals in Shanghai. Pearson's correlation analysis analyzed data. Results Patients have a higher power distance (4.08 ± 0.59). The willingness of patients to participate in patient safety was moderate (3.50 ± 1.03). Pearson's correlation analysis shows that patients' power distance negatively and slightly affected their willingness of participation (r = −.134, p < .001). The perceived authority dimension of patients' power distance has no significant correlation with patients' willingness of participation (p > .05). The emotional communication dimension of patients' power distance negatively affects patients' disease‐related willingness (r = −.077, p < .001). The decision‐making participation dimension of patients' power distance negatively affects patients' willingness (R = −.201, p < .001). Conclusions Medical staff should focus on patients' power distance in medical activities. In addition, appropriate communication methods should be selected according to patients' power distance, so as to help them improve their willingness of participation. Implications for Nursing Management Nurse managers should educate nurses on the knowledge of power distance and its importance. By evaluating patients' power distance, humanistic care and meticulous communication are implemented to encourage patients to actively participate in patient safety.