Selecting and quantifying low-value nursing care in clinical practice: A questionnaire survey

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Low-value nursing care offers minimal patient benefit, potentially causing harm and wasting resources.
• Identifying these practices and understanding nurses' perspectives are crucial for effective intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess hospital nurses' opinions on recommendations for reducing low-value nursing care.
• To identify potentially existing low-value nursing practices within a hospital setting based on nurse feedback.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted in a tertiary hospital following STROBE guidelines.
• Nurses evaluated recommendations for reducing low-value care regarding agreement, adherence, and usefulness.
• Practices with >70% agreement and <70% adherence were flagged as potentially low-value.

Main Results:

• 265 nurses participated across eight care areas.
• High agreement (96%) and perceived usefulness (90%) for recommendations were reported.
• Seven low-value nursing practices were identified, primarily in general, pregnancy, and wound care.

Conclusions:

• Nurses demonstrate a strong understanding of low-value care principles.
• Despite understanding, several low-value practices likely exist, necessitating interventions.
• Reviewing protocols and involving patients in de-implementation are recommended actions.