Development of evidence-based nursing-sensitive quality indicators for emergency nursing: A Delphi study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Quality Indicators
• Emergency Nursing
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• China currently lacks standardized nursing-sensitive quality indicators for emergency care.
• Effective quality indicators are crucial for emergency nursing management and patient safety.
• Existing quality assessment frameworks do not adequately address the specific needs of emergency nursing in China.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and establish evidence-based nursing-sensitive quality indicators for emergency nursing in China.
• To provide a foundation for a national emergency nursing quality database.
• To enhance the overall quality of emergency nursing care within the Chinese healthcare system.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search identified potential quality indicators from January 2009 to May 2014.
• A panel of 40 emergency medicine and nursing experts participated in two rounds of Delphi surveys.
• Kendal's W coordination coefficients were used to assess indicator importance, rationality, and data collection feasibility.

Main Results:

• Initially, 33 quality indicators were proposed for expert evaluation.
• Following two rounds of Delphi surveys and expert consensus, 16 indicators were finalized.
• Kendal's W coefficients indicated statistically significant agreement among experts on indicator importance, rationality, and feasibility (p < .001).

Conclusions:

• A consensus was reached among experts, establishing 16 evidence-based nursing-sensitive quality indicators for emergency nursing.
• These indicators provide a theoretical basis for developing a quality database and improving emergency nursing practices in China.
• The findings support the implementation of standardized quality measures to enhance patient outcomes in Chinese emergency departments.