The association between nurse continuity and hypospadias repair patient outcomes: A retrospective study

Abstract

Background: Recently, nurse continuity, the intensity and consistency of a patient's exposure to nurses during hospitalization, has been shown to be associated with patient outcomes. However, little is known about how nurse continuity is related to patients' surgical outcomes.

Aims: To examine the association between nurse continuity and outcomes of hypospadias repair to clarify the importance of nurse continuity as a nursing practice.

Design: This is a retrospective study.

Methods: We analysed the data from electronic health records of patients under 1 year who had undergone proximal hypospadias repair between January 2014 and December 2016. Nurse continuity was measured using the Continuity of Care Index. Since approximately half of the patients reportedly needed further operations in the long term, the primary outcome was whether patients with proximal hypospadias repair had two or more additional operations within 3 years of discharge.

Results: The rate of undergoing two or more follow-up operations in 3 years was significantly higher in patients with low nurse continuity-38.6% versus 12.8% for high continuity.

Conclusion: This study identified nurse continuity as an important factor related to patients' surgical outcomes. These findings suggest that nurse continuity be considered an important nursing strategy for patient outcomes and further research is needed on this topic.

Impact statement: As empirical evidence regarding the association between nurse continuity and patient outcomes grows, nurse managers and policymakers should view nurse continuity as a critical factor for positive patient outcomes when considering nursing workforce regulations.

No patient or public contribution: The data for this study were obtained from electronic health records, and the entire process of this study did not involve patient or public participation.

Keywords: continuity of patient care; health care; hospitals; hypospadias; nurse; nursing staff; outcome assessment; personnel staffing and scheduling; retrospective studies.