RESUMEN
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify self-leadership and attitude to patient falls and fall prevention behavior in nurses. METHODS: The participants were 178 nurses from two general hospitals in Seoul. Data were collected from March 20 to May 10, 2012 using structured questionnaires which included a Self-leadership scale, Fall attitude scale, and Fall prevention scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and Hierarchial multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score for nurses' self-leadership was 3.48 (5 point scale). The average reported fall attitude was 3.59 (5 point scale) and fall prevention behavior was 3.26 (4 point scale). Self-leadership had a 18% explanatory power in fall attitude and a 5% explanatory power in fall prevention behavior. The factors which influenced fall prevention behavior were nurses' fall attitude (beta=.21, p=.009), fall prevention education (beta=.20, p=.007) and self-leadership (beta=.16, p=.047). All of the factors together had a 13.1% explanatory power. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that provision of regularly fall prevention education to nurses is required and should include a program to activate their positive attitude and self-leadership in order to improve fall prevention behavior in nurses.