Predictive power of clinical indicators for self-care deficit

To describe the predictive power of a set of the best clinical indicators for the nursing diagnostic labels self-care deficit (SCD) and impaired physical mobility.

Patient assessment data (physical examination and interview) were obtained from 414 hospitalized patients.

Patients with the diagnostic label of self-care deficit were significantly older in age, had a greater number of nursing diagnoses, required greater assistance in activities of daily living, and were less mobile than those without the diagnostic label. While 18 of 32 clinical indicators were positively related to self-care deficit, five clinical indicators were sufficient to diagnose SCD.

Further development of the method may be useful in improving diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of nursing diagnoses.