%0 Journal Article
%T The Desire to Explain Phenomenon: Hospital Nursing Staff¡¯s Familiarity and Perceived Relevance of Superstitions
%A Melissa Thomassy
%A Ashley Peacock
%A Amber Leone
%A Heather Hornbostel
%A Peggy Ward-Smith
%J Open Journal of Social Sciences
%P 204-218
%@ 2327-5960
%D 2021
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/jss.2021.99015
%X The use of superstitions, in healthcare settings, </span></span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">is</span></span></span><span><span><span style=\"font-family:&quot;\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> often
used to understand uncontrollable events. In order to describe the knowledge
and clinical relevance of superstitions, survey data were collected from
nursing staff who provide direct patient care. Using a research-based,
study-specific survey, the aim of this study was to describe the knowledge and
clinical relevance of supersti</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">tions among
nurses who provide direct patient care in a hospital setting. T</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">hese data
were analyzed to describe the study population, along with their knowledge and
clinical relevance of superstitions, and compare the responses based on
self-disclosure of superstitiousness. Participants that described themselves as
superstitious reported a greater propensity for superstitions to be clinically
relevant. Less education and younger age increased one¡¯s use of superstitions
in a clinical setting. The use of superstitions provides a coping mechanism for
healthcare providers and a format to explain and understand uncontrollable
events.
%K Superstitions
%K Knowledge
%K Clinical Relevance
%K Nursing Staff
%K Survey Data
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=111847