Perception, willingness, and practice ability for shared governance among Chinese oncology nurses: a multi-center cross-sectional study

Objective: Improving the clinical nurse work environment is a significant challenge for nursing administrators. Shared governance plays a vital role in creating a healthy work environment for clinical nursing professionals. The aim of this study was to assess perception, willingness, and practice ability for shared governance among Chinese oncology nurses. Methods: The study was conducted among 815 registered and enrolled nurses working in the oncology departments of five hospitals in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province, China. The data collection included the general information questionnaire, the nurses' perceptions of the shared governance questionnaire, and the nurses' willingness and practice ability questionnaire regarding shared governance. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were employed to determine the relevant influence factors associated with shared governance among oncology nurses. Results: The average scores for oncology nurses' perception, willingness, and practice ability for shared governance were 1.84, 1.83, and 2.12, respectively. The results of Pearson's correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between oncology nurses' perception, willingness to participate, and ability to participate in shared governance.Moreover, logistic regression analysis revealed that work positions, age, professional title, years of working experience, and familiarity with shared governance were influential factors of perception, willingness, and practice ability for shared governance among oncology nurses. Conclusion: Oncology nurses have limited capacity to participate in shared governance, but they demonstrate a high level of perception and willingness to participate. Nursing managers should strengthen leadership guidance and exemplary roles by utilizing various training or educational methods to further enhance oncology nurses' familiarity with and participation in shared governance, thereby promoting the successful implementation of clinical shared governance.