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Abstract
Aims: To explore the impact of 12 American Nurses Association recognized standardized nursing terminologies (SNTs) on patient and organizational outcomes.
Background: Previous studies reported an effect of SNTs on outcomes, but no previous frameworks nor meta-analyses were found.
Design: Systematic review and meta-analyses.
Review Methods: PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and OpenGrey databases were last consulted in July 2021. All abstracts and full texts were screened independently by two researchers. The review included primary quantitative studies that reported an association between recognized SNTs and outcomes. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias and certainty of evidence for each meta-analyzed outcome using the "Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation" (GRADE) approach.
Results: Fifty-three reports were included. NANDA-NIC-NOC and Omaha System were the most frequently reported SNTs used in the studies. Risk of bias in randomized controlled trials and not-randomized controlled trials ranged from high to unclear, this risk was low in cross-sectional studies. The number of nursing diagnoses NANDA-I moderately correlated with the intensive care unit length of stay (r = 0.38; 95% Cl = 0.31-0.44). Using the Omaha System nurse-led transitional care program showed a large increase in both knowledge (d = 1.21; 95% Cl = 0.97-1.44) and selfefficacy (d = 1.23; 95% Cl = 0.97-1.48), while a reduction on the readmission rate (OR = 0.46; 95% Cl = 0.09-0.83). Nursing diagnoses were found to be useful predictors for organizational (length of stay) and patients' outcomes (mortality, quality of life). The GRADE indicated that the certainty of evidence was rated from very low to low.
Conclusions: Studies using SNTs demonstrated significant improvement and prediction power in several patients' and organizational outcomes. Further high-quality research is required to increase the certainty of evidence of these relationships.
Clinical relevance: SNTs should be considered by healthcare policymakers to improve nursing care and as essential reporting data about patient's nursing complexity to guide reimbursement criteria.
KEYWORDS
meta-analysis, nurses, nursing diagnosis, nursing process, outcomes, standardized nursing terminology, systematic review
INTRODUCTION
The nursing process is a scientific problem-solving method used by nurses to guide the delivery of holistic and patient-focused care (American Nurses Association, 2021). This approach to decision-making and care delivery engages the nurse and patient in an iterative six-step process that includes patient/environment assessment, generation of a...