Relationship Between Structural Quality Indicators in Operating Rooms and Nurses' Risk Perceptions in the Working Environment

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of structural quality indicators in operating rooms on nurses’ risk perceptions, focusing on individual and institutional risk approaches. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed, collecting data from 174 operating room nurses at Erzurum City Hospital and Konya Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine Hospital in Turkey between August and October 2024. Structural quality was assessed using the “Structure Indicators in the Operating Room” (SIOR) scale, while risk perception was measured with the “Nurses’ Attitudes Toward Work Environment Risks Scale” (NATWERS). Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings: Participants were predominantly female (69%), with a mean age of 33.5 ± 7.2 years and a mean professional experience of 11.2 ± 7.8 years. SIOR scores significantly differed across low (2.98 ± 0.77), moderate (3.59 ± 0.36), and high (4.28 ± 0.46) structural quality groups (p < 0.001). NATWERS total scores increased with higher structural quality, with a particularly strong association in the institutional approach subdimension (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Improvements in structural quality indicators positively influence nurses’ risk perceptions and enhance safety attitudes. Optimizing operating room design, including ergonomics, lighting, and safety resources, is recommended to improve risk management and workplace safety.