Superstitions Among Perioperative Nurses

ABSTRACT
- A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY was conducted using a mailed questionnaire to determine the prevalence of work-related superstitious among perioperative nurses.
- DATA ANALYSIS included the two-sample t test for continuous data and the two-sided Fisher's exact test for binary data.
- STUDY RESULTS indicate that although only 23% of respondents view themselves as “generally superstitious,” specific work-related superstitions are widespread. Belief in specific superstitions was not statistically related to age or number of years as a perioperative nurse.
- AN ANALYSIS of the literature on medical workplace superstitions helps to elucidate possible underlying explanations for the phenomenon of nursing superstitions. AORN J 81 (May 2005) 971-984.