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Journal article : Review

Developing metrics for nursing quality of care for low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review linked to stakeholder engagement

Abstract:
BACKGROUND:
The use of appropriate and relevant nurse-sensitive indicators provides an opportunity to demonstrate the unique contributions of nurses to patient outcomes. The aim of this work was to develop relevant metrics to assess the quality of nursing care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where they are scarce.

MAIN BODY:
We conducted a scoping review using EMBASE, CINAHL and MEDLINE databases of studies published in English focused on quality nursing care and with identified measurement methods. Indicators identified were reviewed by a diverse panel of nursing stakeholders in Kenya to develop a contextually appropriate set of nurse-sensitive indicators for Kenyan hospitals specific to the five major inpatient disciplines. We extracted data on study characteristics, nursing indicators reported, location and the tools used. A total of 23 articles quantifying the quality of nursing care services met the inclusion criteria. All studies identified were from high-income countries. Pooled together, 159 indicators were reported in the reviewed studies with 25 identified as the most commonly reported. Through the stakeholder consultative process, 52 nurse-sensitive indicators were recommended for Kenyan hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS:
Although nurse-sensitive indicators are increasingly used in high-income countries to improve quality of care, there is a wide heterogeneity in the way indicators are defined and interpreted. Whilst some indicators were regarded as useful by a Kenyan expert panel, contextual differences prompted them to recommend additional new indicators to improve the evaluations of nursing care provision in Kenyan hospitals and potentially similar LMIC settings. Taken forward through implementation, refinement and adaptation, the proposed indicators could be more standardised and may provide a common base to establish national or regional professional learning networks with the common goal of achieving high-quality care through quality improvement and learning.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1186/s12960-020-00470-2

Authors


Publisher:
BioMed Central
Journal:
Human Resources for Health More from this journal
Volume:
18
Issue:
1
Article number:
34
Publication date:
2020-05-14
Acceptance date:
2020-03-25
DOI:
EISSN:
1478-4491
ISSN:
1478-4491
Pmid:
32410633


Language:
English
Keywords:
Subtype:
Review
Pubs id:
1105607
Local pid:
pubs:1105607
Deposit date:
2020-08-21
ARK identifier:

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