Clinical Safety Awareness and Self-Efficacy in MRI Safety Practice Among Nursing Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose The purpose was to examine the relationships among MRI safety knowledge, clinical safety awareness, and self-efficacy in MRI safety practice among nursing professionals and to identify the factors most strongly associated with self-efficacy. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 176 nursing professionals in Taiwan using a self-developed questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, one-way analysis of variance, multivariate analysis of variance, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the hypothesized relationships among MRI safety knowledge, clinical safety awareness, and self-efficacy. Results Clinical safety awareness was strongly associated with self-efficacy (r = 0.623, p < .001; SEM: β = 0.658, p < .001), whereas MRI safety knowledge showed no significant association with self-efficacy (SEM: β = 0.027, p = .593). Knowledge demonstrated only a weak relationship with awareness (SEM: β = 0.134, p = .092). The indirect effect of knowledge on self-efficacy through awareness was small and not statistically significant (β = 0.088, 95% confidence interval [−0.003, 0.198]). Departmental experience influenced knowledge levels but did not significantly affect awareness or self-efficacy. Across all analytical approaches, clinical safety awareness consistently demonstrated the strongest association with self-efficacy. Conclusions Clinical safety awareness, rather than MRI safety knowledge alone, was the factor most strongly associated with self-efficacy in MRI safety practice. These findings suggest that MRI safety education should extend beyond knowledge acquisition by emphasizing contextual understanding and clinical safety awareness. The findings also support MRI safety education strategies that strengthen clinical safety awareness and self-efficacy, thereby promoting safer MRI practice and patient care.