A Study on the Factors Influencing the Knowledge Hiding of Nurses in Chinese Public Hospitals: A Test of Mediating Effects Based on Psychological Ownership of Knowledge

Abstract

Aim: It was designed to assess the current state of knowledge hiding behavior of nurses in Chinese public hospitals, to conduct an intensive study of the factors influencing nurses' knowledge hiding behavior and to construct a mediating effect model. Subjects and Methods: Quantitative cross-sectional descriptive design was used. A self-administered general information questionnaire was applied, and well-established scales included the Knowledge Hiding Scale, the Psychological Ownership of Knowledge Scale, the Job Insecurity Scale, and the Positive Emotional Climate in Teams Scale. Data was collected virtually by using the online Questionnaire Star. A non-probability, purposive sampling technique was used for a survey of 719 clinical nurses in Chinese public hospitals. Results: The total knowledge hiding score of 719 clinical nurses was (15.76±9.412). Clinical nurses' knowledge hiding behavior was positively correlated with psychological ownership of knowledge and job insecurity (r=0.574, P<0.01; r=0.309, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with positive emotional climate of the team (r=-0.194, P<0.01). Bootstrap test results showed that the 95% CI of the indirect effect of psychological ownership of knowledge between job insecurity and knowledge hiding was 0.075 to 0.186, with a significant mediating effect, which accounted for 55.31% of the total effect. Conclusion: Team emotional climate and job insecurity are influential factors in nurses' knowledge hiding behavior, where job insecurity has an indirect positive effect on knowledge hiding through psychological ownership of knowledge. Healthcare organizations can reduce the knowledge hiding behavior of clinical nurses and achieve knowledge sharing within the organization by breaking the psychological ownership of clinical nurses' knowledge and creating a multidimensional and safe work environment.