Effect of a Green Management Educational Program on Nurse’s Self-Efficacy in Applying Sustainable Practices: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Green management progressively acknowledged as a fundamental element of sustainable healthcare. Nurses play an essential role in implementation of green practices, and self-efficacy emerges as a key determinant of their participation in environmentally sustainable behavior. however, limited knowledge and low self-efficacy may hinder their engagement in sustainable nursing practices.

Objectives: the study amide to evaluate the effect of a green management educational program on nurse’s self-efficacy in applying sustainable practices within the health care settings.

Methodology: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design was used. The study was performed in four governmental hospitals in Al-Najaf City, Iraq, during the period from 19 August 2025 to 1 July 2026. To reduce contamination between groups, the hospitals were randomly allocated into study and comparative conditions, while nurses within each hospital were selected using a homogeneous purposive sampling method according to the inclusion criteria. The final sample consisted of 132 nurses, including 67 nurses in the study group and 65 nurses in the comparative group. The study group received the green management educational program, whereas the control group continued routine clinical duties during the study period. Data were collected using the Green Self-Efficacy Scale before and after the intervention.

Results: At baseline, both groups showed comparable self-efficacy at the pretest period (p = 0.134), with no statically significant between two groups. In contrast, a highly statistically significant difference was observed at the posttest period (p < 0.001), where the study group demonstrated a marked improvement in self-efficacy in applying sustainable practices compared with the comparative group.

Conclusions: The green management educational program significantly effectiveness in increasing nurses’ self-efficacy regarding the implementation of sustainable practices.
Recommendation: integration of green management and sustainability principles into continuing nursing education programs to enhance environmentally responsible nursing outcomes.