Patients’ Perception Regarding Missed Nursing Care and Adverse Events at Public Hospital in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Adverse events of missed nursing care in hospitals are an important concern involving serious consequences and public health challenges. According to the WHO, approximately 10% of patients are harmed in health care, and more than 3 million deaths occur annually due to unsafe care. Therefore, this study was conducted to explain the experiences of patients regarding adverse events as the consequences of missed nursing care.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between patients’ Perceptions regarding missed nursing care and adverse events.

Methods: A Descriptive correlational study was conducted with conveniently recruited 101 surgery patients. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using the Missed Nursing Care Questionnaire (24 items) and the Adverse Event Questionnaire (12 items). The data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The study findings showed that the majority of the patients perceived a moderate level of missed nursing care. The study found that adverse events including hospital-acquired infection (p =.02), extravasation of IV fluid (p<.000), constipation (p =.03), and mental injury, including anxiety and depression (p =<.01) had the significant relationship with missed nursing care. The result also revealed that patients’ gender, education, marital status, surgery types, and present hospital duration were the significant influencing factors in adverse events of missed nursing care.

Conclusion: Missed nursing care is a challenging issue, and regularly, patients have been experiencing lots of adverse events in hospitals as a consequence of missed nursing care. Nurses can play an important role in minimizing adverse events by ensuring adequate nursing care. Therefore, some managerial strategies must be implemented, including maintaining nursing care checklist, monitoring and supervision for ensuring nursing responsibilities, and arranging education and competency programs to minimize adverse events in risk areas. Further studies are needed to explore the possible reasons for missed nursing care.