Nursing-Sensitive Quality Indicators and Related Factors for Patients at Intensive Care Units in Port Said City, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Nursing-sensitive quality indicators (NSQIs) are critical in evaluating the quality of care specific to nursing practice aligned with Egypt's health sector vision 2030. Research on NSQIs potentially improves nursing practice, either directly or indirectly. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of nursing-sensitive quality indicators and related factors for patients at intensive care units in Port Said City, Egypt. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. Utilising two samples: the first was a convenience sample of 150 patients, while the second was all nurses (150), which provided care for adult intensive care patients at hospitals affiliated with the Egypt Health Care Authority Hospitals in Port Said City. Using two tools, the modified nursing sensitive quality indicators questionnaire was used to assess nurses’ awareness of quality-sensitive nursing indicators. The second tool was the physical examination tool, which was used to assess patients for signs and symptoms of several quality-sensitive indicators by nurses. Results: The most common sensitive nursing quality indicator was falls (45.3%), followed by peripheral infiltration (28.7%) and urinary infection (26.9%). However, the mean total nurses’ awareness score for the sensitive nursing quality indicators was 222.33±40.66. There is a significant relationship between total nurses’ level of awareness about sensitive nursing quality indicators and urinary catheter-related urinary tract infection manifestations. However, patient gender was significantly related to restraint prevalence, and fall occurrence was significantly related to patient income. Conclusion: Falls was the greatest known sensitive nursing quality indicator ‎followed by peripheral infiltration and urinary infection. However, a regular follow-up ‎regarding nursing-sensitive quality indicators, the employment of updated awareness sessions for nurses ‎about quality indicators and considering the high prevalence of patient outcome indicators are recommended.