The Effect of Role Conflict and Professional Autonomy on the Role Performance of Patient Safety Coordinators in Small and Medium-Sized Hospitals in Korea

This study aimed to investigate the effects of role conflict and professional autonomy on the role performance of patient safety coordinators in small and medium-sized hospitals in Korea. The participants in this cross-sectional study were 121 patient safety coordinators in general hospitals or hospitals with more than 100–300 beds. Data were collected through an online survey for about three weeks in February 2022. The variables were role conflict, professional autonomy, and role performance. In the data analysis, we employed the t-test, ANOVA, correlation, and multiple regression methods. Almost all (99.2%) of the participants were nurses. The lower the role conflict and the higher the professional autonomy, the better the role performance shown. As a result of analyzing the factors affecting role performance, the regression model was found to be significant (F = 6.988, p < 0.001). The most influential factor in role performance was professional autonomy (β = 0.279, p = 0.002). In conclusion, it is thought that systematic education and legal and institutional arrangements for independent roles and work regulations are needed to strengthen patient safety coordinators’ competency in small and medium-sized hospitals in Korea. This will improve the role performance of patient safety coordinators and create a better patient safety culture.