Six Nursing Care Problems in Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study of Quality of Care.

BACKGROUND: Investigations on the quality of nursing care relating to various care problems are rare. PURPOSE: This study assessed the (1) fulfillment of structural indicators, (2) application of nursing interventions as process indicators, and (3) prevalence rate as outcome indicators with regard to various care problems. METHODS: A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in 30 Austrian hospitals with 2878 patients. RESULTS: The highest number of structural quality indicators was fulfilled for pressure ulcers, falls, restraints, and pain. In malnutrition and urinary incontinence, a lack of structural indicators was observed. Most interventions were offered to patients with pressure ulcers or those who had experienced a fall. The lowest frequency of nursing interventions was seen in malnourished and incontinent persons. CONCLUSION: There is a need for the national adaptation of guidelines for malnutrition and urinary incontinence. This may increase the frequency of evidence-based nursing interventions.