Safety Behavior of Nurses at Mental Hospital X, Semarang City Reviewed from the Aspects of Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Work Characteristics

Abstract Background: Cases of work accidents and work-related diseases in hospitals have a higher risk compared to other workplaces. Cases of accidents that often occur in hospitals include needle sticks, sprains, back pain, scratches/cuts, burns, infectious diseases and others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that every year there are 385 cases of work accidents such as injuries from sharp objects contaminated with blood in health workers. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between gender, length of service, perception of safety behaviour, level of education, level of knowledge about safety behaviour, age and work shift with safety behaviour in nurses of Mental Hospital X Semarang City. The total sampling method was used, namely all acute psychiatric nurses, totalling 42 nurses.  Method: Analytical observational research with a cross-sectional study design. The research was conducted through interviews using a questionnaire. The variables studied were gender analysis, length of service, perception of safety behaviour, level of education, knowledge about safety behaviour, age and work shift. The study used the chi-square test and Spearman's Rank test.  Results: Data analysis obtained the results of more female gender (59.5%), nurses with S1 education level (38.1%), good knowledge level (64.3%), and positive perception (71.4%). The results obtained there show a relationship between age (p = 0.001), tenure (p = 0.024), education level (p = 0.000), knowledge level (p = 0.003), perception (p = 0.000), and safety behaviour. No relationship exists between gender (p = 0.505) or work shift (p = 0.912) with safety behaviour