Adverse events in critically ill patients: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Patient Safety
• Nursing Research

Background:

• Intensive care units (ICUs) manage critically ill patients requiring complex care.
• Adverse events can significantly impact patient outcomes and healthcare resource utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of adverse events in an ICU.
• To assess the relationship between adverse events and patient care needs.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study conducted from January to March 2020.
• Investigated pressure injury, extubation, falls, central venous access loss, and healthcare-associated infections.
• Nursing Activities Score measured patient care hours; odds ratio analyzed associations.

Main Results:

• 52.3% of 88 evaluated patients experienced adverse events.
• Adverse events correlated with increased care needs, severity, and hospital stay.
• A 20%-30% nursing staff deficit was identified, with a mean Nursing Activities Score of 51.01% (12h 24min).

Conclusions:

• High prevalence of adverse events in the ICU setting.
• Identified nursing staff shortage necessitates adequate staffing to mitigate harm.
• Addressing staffing deficits is crucial for improving care for critically ill patients.