Knowledge Sharing Practices Among Nurses During COVID-19: A Case Study of Makhanda in the Eastern Cape Province of South

Abstract

The importance of knowledge in this fast-changing world cannot be overstated. Knowledge is urrently considered a crucial organisational resource that transcends other resources, such as land and capital. It plays a vital role in ensuring that organisations maintain a competitive edge. The purpose of this study is to examine knowledge sharing practices among public nursing practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic in the city of Makhanda, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The study aims to gain insight into the level of knowledge sharing practices among nurses working in eight public health facilities in Makhanda. The study was supported by the positivist paradigm, which is based on the hypothetical-deductive technique used to validate a priori quantitative statements that best meet the needs and objectives of the study. Based on the study's purpose, objectives, and data requirements, a quantitative approach was used, employing a survey design. A questionnaire containing mostly closed ended and a few open-ended questions was distributed to all 56 registered nurses working in eight public health institutions in Makhanda. Of the 56 questionnaires distributed, 47 were returned, yielding an 84% response rate. The collected data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 26, and the results were exported to Microsoft Excel for visualisation and reporting of the findings. The findings indicate that the respondents understand what knowledge sharing practice is; however, their understanding of this practice among themselves differed from their actual practice of sharing knowledge. The majority of the respondents did not engage in knowledge sharing practice despite being aware of its benefits and importance. Most respondents indicated that knowledge sharing practice is essential to service delivery. The study recommends that knowledge which is relevant to the work the nurses perform should be acquired by them. The study also recommends identifying the nurses responsible for, and their responsibilities in, knowledge sharing practice across various departments, the promotion of a knowledge sharing culture, the use of information and communication technology to support knowledge sharing practice and using communities of practice (CoPs) to share knowledge.