The educational preparation of nurses in a developing economy and patient mortality

Mahfoud, Z. R.; Gkantaras, I.; Topping, A. E.; Cannaby, A. M.; Foreman, B.; Watson, R.; Thompson, D. R.; Gray, R.

Abstract

Background: Most studies have reported that higher levels (baccalaureate degree) of educational attainment by nurses is associated with lower levels of patient mortality. Researchers working in developed economies (e.g. North America and Europe) have almost exclusively conducted these studies. The value of baccalaureate nurse education has not been tested in countries with a developing economy.

Method: A retrospective observational study conducted in seven hospitals. The primary outcome was all-cause patient mortality. We extracted data on nurses and patients from two different administrative sources and linked them using the staff identification number that exists in both systems. We used bivariate logistic regression models to test the association between mortality and the educational attainment of the admitting nurse (responsible for assessment and care planning).

Results: Data were extracted for 11,918 patients and 7,415 nurses over the first six months of 2015. The majority of nurses were educated in South Asia and just over half were educated to at least bachelor degree level. After adjusting for confounding and clustering, nurse education was not found to be associated with mortality (OR=1·34, 95% confidence interval=·569, 3·156), nurse’ nationality and staffing ratios were found to be significantly associated to patient mortality

Implications for nursing and health policy: Our observations suggest that in a developing economy the educational preparation of nurses is not associated with a reduction in patient mortality. Findings should be interpreted with considerable caution but do challenge widely held assumptions about the value of baccalaureate prepared nurses. Further research focused on nursing education in developing economies is required to inform health policy and planning.

Citation

Mahfoud, Z. R., Gkantaras, I., Topping, A. E., Cannaby, A. M., Foreman, B., Watson, R., Thompson, D. R., & Gray, R. (2018). The educational preparation of nurses in a developing economy and patient mortality. International Nursing Review, 65(3), 434-440. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12450

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 7, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Mar 2, 2018
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Deposit Date: Feb 12, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 3, 2019
• Print ISSN: 0020-8132
• Electronic ISSN: 1466-7657
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 65
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 434-440
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12450
• Keywords: Nurse; Education; RN4Cast; Observational; Mortality; Qatar; Developing economy
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/589243
• Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/inr.12450/abstract
• Additional Information: This is the accepted version of an article published in International nursing review.
• Contract Date: Mar 7, 2018