Relationships among self-reported medical malpractice tendency, smartphone addiction, and job performance in nurses

The rapid integration of smartphones into clinical practice has transformed healthcare delivery, offering both advantages and potential risks. While smartphones enhance accessibility and efficiency, their inappropriate use may decrease self-reported job performance and increase the tendency toward medical malpractice.This study aimed to examine the relationships among self-reported medical malpractice tendency, smartphone addiction, and job performance in nurses. This descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational study included 412 nurses working in various clinical units of a tertiary university-affiliated hospital in Istanbul. Data were collected through online questionnaires between January and April 2021. Standardized scales were used: The Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), Job Performance Scale (JPS), and Malpractice Trend Scale in Nursing (MTSN). Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS 26. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis were applied. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. The nurses’ Malpractice Trend Scale mean score was 220.52 ± 0.42.75, their job performance scale mean score was 4.30 ± 0.61, and their Malpractice Trend Scale score was 26.39 ± 15.08. A strong negative correlation was found between smartphone addiction and job performance (r= -0.646), and between malpractice tendency and job performance (r= -0.645). Conversely, smartphone addiction was positively correlated with malpractice tendency (r = 0.580). Regression analysis showed that scores on the Smartphone Addiction Scale and the Malpractice Trend Scale in Nursing were significantly associated with self-reported job performance; together they explained approximately 52.5% of the variance (R² = 0.525). Self-reported medical malpractice tendency and smartphone addiction were negatively associated with nurses’ self-reported job performance. Although smartphones are indispensable in modern healthcare, their excessive and inappropriate use may jeopardize patient safety and the quality of care. Nurse managers should establish clear policies promoting responsible smartphone use and provide training to minimize distractions in order to enhance clinical performance and ensure patient safety.