Updating the Belgian Nursing Minimum Data Set: framework and methodology

The Belgium Nursing Minimum Data Set (BNMDS) started nationally in 1988. It has to be updated to reflect the current evolution of health care. This document describes the framework and methodology for this updating project. The main preoccupation of the research project is to update the existing instrument while avoiding an overload of additional items. A wide range and in-depth analysis of the existing data sets (BNMDS and related data sets) is prerequisite with a view to the development of relevant and effective nursing care indicators. New items and their registration are only acceptable when existing data are insufficient for the required indicators. Indicators relate to clinical nursing care as well as the management of nursing care, e.g. nursing care, nurse staffing, variability of nursing care in view of hospitalization types. While the current indicators make the nursing care process visible only, the updated BNMDS and its indicators should pilot the appropriateness of hospital admissions and their modus, e.g. in-patient versus one-day, and length of stay, the quality of nursing care and the adequacy of nurse staffing. The project focuses on six care programs or clinical pathways: care of the elderly, intensive care, chronic care, pediatrics, cardiology and oncology. A first work package includes the development of new indicators and updating of existing ones, based on secondary data analysis of the existing BNMDS and related data sets. The second work package involves the establishment of workgroups for each care program. The workgroups will review, evaluate and fine-tune the proposals of the researchers. Finally, in work package three, the updated BNMDS will be tested in the hospital setting.