Investigation of Perceptions of Nurses Working in Surgical Units on Crab Basket Syndrome: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Aim: To investigate perceptions of crab basket syndrome (CBS) among nurses working in surgical units. Methods: The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 210 nurses actively working in surgical units of four hospitals in the Mediterranean region between January 24 2023-June 24 2024. Data were collected face-to-face with the “Introductory Information Form and CBS”. The descriptive statistics, Independent Sample Student t-test, and Kruskal Wallis-H tests were used in evaluating the data. Results: The mean age of the nurses was 36.51±8.51 years. Of nurses, 81% were female, 65.7% were married, 43.8% were undergraduates, and 28.6% had 1-5 years of professional experience. Nurses’ mean scores for the CBS Scale (CBSS) total and its cognitive, emotional, and behavioral subdimensions were 2.86±0.68, 2.86±0.67, 2.93±0.88, and 2.79±0.95, respectively. The behavioral sub-dimension score of the nurses dissatisfied with the institution they worked in and not trusting the nurse in charge of the service they worked in was higher and more significant than the other groups (p<0.05). Nurses dissatisfied with the communication with their colleagues in the unit and not trusting their colleagues had higher mean scores in the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral sub-dimensions and total score of CBSS. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). Nurses seeing the competition in the working environment as false had higher cognitive sub-dimension scores, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (x²=7.819; p=0.020). Conclusions: Nurses working in surgical units experience CBS. Surgical nurses’ perception of CBS varies based on factors such as marital status, gender, education level, professional experience, institutional satisfaction, team communication, trust in the work environment, competitive atmosphere, and trust in the manager. To reduce CBS in surgical wards, a non-competitive, reliable, and supportive working environment that increases nurses’ trust in the institution should be provided.