Healthcare-related regret coping and related factors among undergraduate nursing interns: a latent profile analysis

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-related regret adversely affects the well-being and professional growth of undergraduate nursing interns, as well as diminishes patient care quality. However, the heterogeneity of coping mechanisms employed in response to such regret remains unexplored. OBJECTIVE: To identify latent profiles of healthcare-related regret coping and to explore the factors associated with these profiles among nursing interns. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. METHODS: Data were collected using validated scales that assess healthcare-related regret coping, personality traits, care-related regret intensity, and patient safety attitudes and professionalism. Latent profile analysis and disordered multinomial logistic regression were applied for data analysis. RESULTS: Latent profile analysis identified three distinct groups among the 299 undergraduate nursing interns: a positive coping group (32.78%), a negative coping group (41.47%), and a positive coping with negative emotion group (25.75%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that self-responsibility in the most regretted event (Class 1 vs. Class 2, OR = 1.220, P < 0.001; Class 1 vs. Class 3, OR = 1.147, P = 0.038), emotional stability (Class 1 vs. Class 2, OR = 1.311, P = 0.004; Class 1 vs. Class 3, OR = 1.326, P = 0.019), care-related regret intensity (Class 1 vs. Class 3, OR = 0.836, P < 0.001; Class 3 vs. Class 2, OR = 1.161, P < 0.001), patient safety attitudes and professionalism (Class 1 vs. Class 2, OR = 1.025, P = 0.019; Class 3 vs. Class 2, OR = 1.027, P = 0.020) were significant factors influencing the classification of nursing interns' healthcare-related regret coping. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing interns exhibit heterogeneous profiles in healthcare-related regret coping. These distinct patterns were significantly associated with self-responsibility, emotional stability, care-related regret intensity, and patient safety attitudes and professionalism. These findings highlight the necessity for tailored interventions and support strategies targeting these modifiable factors to enhance nursing interns' ability to cope with healthcare-related regret effectively within both nursing education and clinical practice.