Potential use of small area variations analysis in nursing outcomes research

Small area variations analysis (SAVA) is a method for measuring and analyzing differences in clinical practice and service utilization across small geographic areas. To date, nursing has not adopted a SAVA approach in patient outcomes studies. A discussion is offered of the conceptual and methodological considerations confronting researchers and outcomes managers who wish to conduct a small area variations analysis followed by examples and suggestions for incorporating SAVA into nursing practice.