Preparedness for risk management by professional nurse in Buriram Hospital

Abstract

Purposes: To investigate existing problems and contextual factors, develop and refine procedures and processes, evaluate outcomes, and identify key success factors in order to enhance preparedness for risk management among professional nurses in hospitals in Buriram Province.

Study design: This study employed Participatory Action Research (PAR).

Materials and Methods:  This study was conducted among 96 registered nurses working in hospitals in Buriram Province. Participants were selected using purposive sampling based on predefined inclusion criteria. Data collection was carried out from December 15, 2025 to March 15, 2026. The research instruments included data collection tools comprising a focus group discussion guide, a demographic data questionnaire for the target group, and a satisfaction questionnaire. The instruments demonstrated acceptable content validity, with a Content Validity Index (CVI) of 0.80. The reliability of the questionnaire, as measured by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, was 0.78. Data were analyzed using Paired Sample t-test.           

Main findings: The situation of risk reporting among professional nurses revealed several key challenges: (1) difficulties in recording data in the reporting system, (2) a lack of shared and clearly understood guidelines for risk review, (3) delays in risk management processes, particularly for high-risk incidents that involve multiple procedural steps, and (4) unclear guidance regarding the required level of detail in risk reporting. To address these issues, a standardized guideline for risk report documentation by professional nurses was developed. The guideline includes the following components: (1) related department, (2) reporting department, (3) date and time of the incident, (4) description of the event, (5) impact of the incident, (6) initial corrective actions, and (7) classification of risk levels. The implementation of this guideline contributed to the establishment of a unified IT system and clearer assignment of responsibilities. Furthermore, professional nurses in hospitals in Buriram Province reported significantly higher levels of satisfaction after participating in the development process compared to before participation, at the 0.05 level of statistical significance.

Conclusion and Recommendations: Provincial-level agencies may utilize these findings as a framework to identify factors influencing risk management and to further develop context-appropriate risk management models. A participatory approach should be emphasized to ensure sustainability in ongoing risk management practices.