Untangling a complex skein on ward round terminologies, purposes, and main features through a rapid review

Abstract

Aim(s): To increase conceptual clarity in the field of nursing regarding terms, purposes, and main features of rounding as investigated to date.

Design: A Rapid Review according to the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Protocol.

Review methods: These were: (a) set the research question; (b) establish the study eligibility criteria; (c) search the databases; (d) select the studies; (e) extract the data; (f) assess the risk of bias; and (g) provide a synthesis using three methodologies, namely a qualitative content analysis, a thematic and a framework synthesis.

Data sources: MEDLINE (PubMed), Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health databases and grey literature from 2014 to 2022.

Results: A total of 72 studies were included; 88 different terminologies are used to describe the rounding from one up to five words. "Preparing the care by ensuring an effective care plan, team and environment", "Delivering tailored and timely nursing care" and "Promoting the quality of care" are the three main purposes of the rounding, including several specific aims. Regarding the main features, these emerged from highly structured/prescriptive to low structured/prescriptive approaches to rounding intervention.

Conclusion: The word "round" alone seems to be not sufficient to communicate and describe the intervention, suggesting that this field of research is entering within the complex intervention framework. The different aims of the rounding have been conceptually categorized into three main purposes whereas the intervention features may range from simple to very complex, where several options regarding who to involve, how and when to deliver are expressed.

Implications for the profession and/or patient care: This rapid review followed by three data analysis methodologies have resulted in three main frameworks that may be useful to address the research, the clinical practice and the education regarding the terminologies, the different purposes and the main features of the rounding. No Patient or Public Contribution.

No patient or public contribution: There was no patient or public contribution in the conduct of this study.

Keywords: nurse; nursing; rapid review; round; rounding.