Relationship between Knowledge Management and Social Value among Iranian Nurses

Aim. This study was conducted to determine the association between knowledge management and social value among nurses working in hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Background. Knowledge management plays a significant role in healthcare systems. Healthcare providers require knowledge in every aspect of their work, and they must be able to rely on a knowledge management system to access the newest research and practice to ensure the highest quality of care. One of the evident goals of knowledge management is creating value in organizations. Creating value does not necessarily mean creating economic value, but creating social value is a category proposed as a prerequisite for knowledge management. Methods. This research is a descriptive-analytical study conducted in Tehran in 2021 on two groups of nurses (N = 228) selected through a stratified random method. The data collection tools were Choi knowledge management questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire on social value validated in Iranian society. Results. There was a positive and significant correlation between the variables of knowledge management and social value in Bachelor of Science (BSc) nurses (P value ≤0.01, r = 0.43), and no significant correlation was observed in Master of Science (MSc) nurses (P value >0.05, r = 0.14). Conclusions. In the BSc nurses’ group, a direct and significant association was found between knowledge management and social value of BSc nurses so that by increasing the score of knowledge management in the nursing community, individuals feel more self-worth, resulting in achieving a favorable level of customer satisfaction. Implication for Nursing Management. It is suggested that an accurate program should be designed for all academic levels of nurses in hospitals, the principal elements of creating knowledge and learning and its provision should be assessed, and the necessary measures should be taken.