Care time and quality indicators in Intensive Care Units.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Research
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Nursing care time is a critical resource in intensive care units (ICUs).
• Understanding the relationship between nursing resources and care quality is essential for optimizing patient outcomes.
• Previous research has explored staffing levels, but direct correlation with specific quality indicators needs further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between the duration of nursing care and key patient safety indicators.
• To analyze the relationship between nursing staff availability and the incidence of device-related complications.

Main Methods:

• An observational, correlational study was conducted across 11 ICUs.
• Data collected included nursing staff numbers, patient numbers with Oro/Nasogastroenteral Probes (GEPRO), Endotracheal Tubes (COT), and Central Venous Catheters (CVC).
• Incidence of device loss and unplanned extubation were recorded and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Nursing care time varied by hospital, ranging from 18.86 to 21 hours.
• Incidence rates were: GEPRO outflow 2.19/100 patient-days, COT extubation 0.42/100 patient-days, and CVC loss 0.22/100 patient-days.
• No statistically significant correlation was found between nursing care time and the analyzed quality indicators.

Conclusions:

• The study did not establish a direct link between nursing care time and the incidence of device-related adverse events.
• Findings suggest that factors beyond mere time may influence care quality and patient safety.
• This research provides a foundation for future studies examining the impact of human resources on patient safety and care quality.