Knowledge and Attitude of Emergency Nurses Regarding Work-Related Legal Issues in Erbil Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study, 2023-2024.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

In Erbil, Iraq, emergency nurses frequently encounter complex legal issues in their professional practice, impacting their knowledge, attitudes, and interference with legal matters. This study aimed to analyze the level of legal knowledge, attitudes toward legal issues, and the extent of legal interference among emergency nurses in Erbil.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to February 5, 2024, in eight major public hospitals in Erbil. Purposive sampling was used to collect data using a comprehensive questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic information and the Emergency Nursing Legal Issues Assessment Scale (ENLIAS), which measured legal knowledge, attitudes toward legal issues, and interference with legal matters. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata version 12 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX). Pearson correlation analyses and multiple linear regression were conducted to assess the correlations between legal knowledge, attitudes, interference with legal issues, and demographic variables.

RESULTS

A total of 254 emergency nurses participated in the study. The mean score for legal knowledge was 6.00 ± 3.25, indicating a moderate level of knowledge. The mean score for attitudes toward legal issues was 5.35 ± 2.08, also reflecting a moderate level. The mean score for interference with legal issues was 24.69 ± 5.16, indicating medium interference. There was a significant positive correlation between legal knowledge and good attitude ( = 0.47, < 0.001), suggesting that higher legal knowledge is associated with a more positive attitude toward legal issues. Conversely, there was a significant negative correlation between legal knowledge and interference with legal issues ( = -0.55,  < 0.001), indicating that greater legal knowledge is associated with lower interference in legal matters.

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrated that emergency nurses in Erbil have moderate levels of legal knowledge and attitudes toward legal issues, with medium levels of interference in legal matters. Policymakers and healthcare providers should develop targeted educational interventions to enhance legal literacy and support nurses in effectively managing legal issues.