Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Saifeallah Khosravi ¹
• Atefeh Zarei ²
• Behrooz Bayat ²
• Zarrin Zarrinabadi ³

¹ PhD Student of Knowledge and Information Science, Hamedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan and Librarian of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Hamedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran

³ Assistant Professor of Medical Library and Information Sciences, School of allied Medical Science, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Knowledge sharing involves the exchange of information among individuals across various groups and divisions within or between organizations. It includes conveying knowledge to colleagues through internal and external communication processes. This study aims to present a model for knowledge-sharing behavior among nurses.
Methodology: This applied research adopts a mixed-methods approach, beginning with a qualitative phase followed by quantitative analysis. The qualitative phase involved thematic analysis of the primary and secondary components of the Theory of Planned Behavior and Homans' Social Exchange Theory, derived from scientific works published between 2000 and 2024 in indexed online databases. Data were collected through library research in a virtual environment using the PRISMA flowchart, and themes were extracted using networked thematic analysis. n the first phase, keywords related to the research objectives were identified through a review of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and consultation with experts. The identified keywords were: ("Theory of Planned Behavior") AND ("nurses' knowledge sharing" OR "nurses' information sharing"). ("Homans' Social Exchange Theory") AND ("nurses' knowledge sharing" OR "nurses' information sharing" OR "nurses' information exchange"). In the second phase, the literature search was conducted using national databases such as IranDoc, Magiran, Noormags, and SIKA, as well as international databases including ScienceDirect, ProQuest, Web of Science, and PubMed. In the third stage, inclusion and exclusion criteria were established: (1) studies predicting users' knowledg sharing behavior using Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior and Homans' Social Exchange Theory, either separately or combined; (2) studies published as full texts with accessible files; and (3) studies published between 2000 and April 2024 in online databases. In the fourth stage, 375 retrieved sources were screened using the PRISMA flow diagram. During the initial screening, titles and abstracts were reviewed based on the study's objectives and inclusion criteria, resulting in 80 remaining sources. In the second screening phase, 44 sources were excluded after full-text reviews due to non-compliance with the study goals and criteria, leaving a total of 36 sources for further review and data extraction. In the fifth and sixth stages, bibliographic details were recorded, and themes were extracted from the source texts through thematic analysis and coding. The quantitative Research phase employed a survey-analytical method using a researcher-developed questionnaire consisting of 27 questions across nine components derived from the qualitative phase. These components include attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intention, rewards, reciprocal relationships, risk, reputation perception, and knowledge-sharing tools. Responses were measured on a five-point Likert scale ranging from "strongly disagree" (1) to "strongly agree" (5). The statistical population comprised nurses from six selected teaching hospitals of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. Based on the structural equation modeling guidelines of 5Q<n<27Q, a sample size of 280 participants was determined using proportional quota-random sampling. To validate the questionnaire items, a checklist assessing the Content Validity Index (CVI) and Content Validity Ratio (CVR) was distributed among 34 faculty members and specialists in information science and knowledge studies affiliated with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. The average CVR and CVI coefficients were reported as 84% and 69%, respectively. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, with a pre-test reliability of R=0.873 and a post-test reliability of R=0.915 based on a sample of 36 individuals from the statistical population. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the research hypotheses, and Friedman's test was used to prioritize the components.
Findings: The qualitative analysis identified nine key components: attitude, rewards, mutual benefits, reputation, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intention, risk, and knowledge-sharing tools. Descriptive statistics indicated that, from the nurses' perspective, attitude, rewards, mutual benefits, reputation, and subjective norms had above-average means and significantly influenced knowledge-sharing behavior. However, inferential statistics revealed that only attitude, perceived behavioral control, and rewards had a significant impact on knowledge-sharing behavior.
Discussion: The components of attitude, perceived behavioral control, rewards, mutual benefits, reputation, and subjective norms play significant roles in the knowledge-sharing behavior model of nurses. 

Keywords

• Ajzen'
• s Planned Behavior Theory
• Homans'
• Social Exchange Theory
• Nurses
• Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences

Main Subjects

• Knowledge Sharing