Measurement and Validation of Primary Care Nursing Indicators Based on a Wound Care Tracer Condition

J Nurs Care Qual. 2020 Jan/Mar;35(1):63-69. doi: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000403.

Abstract

Background: Access to both valid and reliable nursing-sensitive indicators is currently limited in primary care.

Purpose: The objectives were to (1) measure primary care nursing indicators using a wound care tracer condition and (2) study the associations between process and outcome indicators.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study in an ambulatory care clinic in Quebec, Canada. The sample included 482 episodes of care. We studied 5 indicators related to processes and 3 to outcomes.

Results: Performance levels were moderately high for indicators of initial assessment and duration and low for those of continuity and education. Associations between nursing follow-up and continuity indicators and 3 outcome indicators were highly significant.

Conclusion: Continuity and nursing follow-up are associated with improved outcomes. Increasing these indicators' performance level can improve both nursing processes and patient outcomes.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities / organization & administration
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Primary Care Nursing / methods
  • Primary Care Nursing / standards*
  • Primary Care Nursing / statistics & numerical data
  • Quality Indicators, Health Care / classification*
  • Quality Indicators, Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Quebec
  • Wound Healing / drug effects
  • Wound Healing / physiology
  • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology
  • Wounds and Injuries / nursing*