title: Social capital and knowledge sharing: effects on patient safety.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article is a report on a study that empirically examines the influence of social capital on knowledge sharing and the impact of knowledge sharing on patient safety.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Knowledge sharing is linked to many desirable managerial outcomes, including learning and problem-solving, which are essential for patient safety. Rather than studying the tangible effects of rewards, this study examines whether social capital (including social interaction, trust and shared vision) directly supports individual knowledge sharing in an organization.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study analysed data collected through a questionnaire survey of nurses from a major medical centre in northern Taiwan. The data were collected over a 9-month period from 2008 to 2009. The data analysis was conducted using the Partial Least Squares Graph v3.0 program to evaluate the measurement properties and the structural relationships specified in the research model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on a large-scale survey, empirical results indicate that Registered Nurses' perceptions of trust and shared vision have statistically significant and direct effects on knowledge sharing. In addition, knowledge sharing is significantly and positively associated with patient safety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that hospital administrators should foster group trust and initiate a common vision among Registered Nurses. In addition, administrators and chief knowledge officers of hospitals should encourage positive intentions towards knowledge sharing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Business Administration, Feng Chia University, Taiwan. cwchang@fcuoa.fcu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Chia-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Heng-Chiang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chi-Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Chiu-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chia-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D036262:Empirical Research; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D015399:Nursing Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D015279:Organizational Culture; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D060756:Social Networking; D013624:Taiwan; D035502:Trust; D055815:Young Adult