Application of obstetric nursing-sensitive quality indicators in continuous quality improvement.

OBJECTIVE

To verify the effect of obstetric nursing-sensitive quality indicators for continuously improving nursing quality.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the obstetric nurse quality in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and University-Town Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from October 2019 to September 2020. Nurses and patients in the Obstetrics Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and University-Town Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were respectively assigned into an experimental group and a control group. High-quality nursing services were provided to patients in both groups. In addition to the high-quality nursing services, the obstetric nurses in the experimental group received training on obstetric nursing-sensitive quality indicators based on the knowledge-attitude-practice model. An obstetric nursing quality evaluation was conducted between the two groups. Continuous quality improvement was achieved using the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle. The nursing quality was reflected by 14 obstetric nursing-sensitive quality indicators and the nurses' job satisfaction was compared between the experimental group and the control group before and after intervention.

RESULTS

The information regarding the nurses and parturients, and the nurses' job satisfaction were not significantly different between the two groups before intervention (P>0.05). Except for information regarding the lateral perineotomy at vaginal delivery, there was no significant difference in other obstetric nursing-sensitive quality indicators between the two groups before the intervention. In the experimental group, the rates of early skin-to-skin contact between mothers and infants, early sucking with exclusive breastfeeding during hospitalization, parturient satisfaction with the nurses' work, and nurses' job satisfaction after intervention were better than before (P<0.05). In the experimental group, the rates of neonatal asphyxia/severe neonatal asphyxia and postpartum hemorrhage following vaginal delivery after intervention was significantly lower than before (P<0.05). The experimental group had better outcomes than the control group in the rates of early skin-to-skin contact between mothers and infants, early sucking with exclusive breastfeeding during hospitalization, parturient satisfaction with the nurses' work, and nurses' job satisfaction (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Obstetric nursing-sensitive quality indicators can be used to improve the nursing quality in continuous quality improvement, which is worthy of promotion in clinics.