Data Collection Plan for Research on Nurse-to-Patient Ratio in ICUs

Research Topic: How does a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:1 compared to 1:2 or higher affect patient mortality, healthcare-associated infections, and nurse job satisfaction in adult ICUs within a three-month period?

Data Collection Methods:

1. Observational Study: Conduct an observational study in adult ICUs with different nurse-to-patient ratios (1:1 vs. 1:2 or higher). Collect data over a three-month period.
2. Data Sources:
   • Medical Records: Extract data on patient demographics, diagnoses, interventions, length of stay, and mortality rates from electronic health records (EHRs).
   • Infection Control Records: Obtain data on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) from hospital infection control databases.
   • Nurse Surveys: Administer validated surveys to nurses at regular intervals to assess their job satisfaction, burnout, and perceived workload.
   • Administrative Data: Collect data on staffing levels, patient acuity, and hospital characteristics from administrative databases.

Potential Issues and Solutions:

• Confounding Variables: Other factors besides nurse-to-patient ratio can impact outcomes.
  • Solution: Use statistical methods like multivariable regression to control for potential confounders like patient severity, co-morbidities, and ICU characteristics.
• Selection Bias: ICUs with different ratios might differ in other ways.
  • Solution: Match ICUs based on relevant characteristics or use propensity score matching.
• Data Availability and Quality: Access to medical records and infection control data might be limited.
  • Solution: Seek collaboration with hospitals and ensure data anonymization and confidentiality.
• Survey Bias: Nurses might underreport HAIs or overestimate job satisfaction.
  • Solution: Use anonymous surveys, clarify questions, and encourage honest responses.

Strengths of this Plan:

• Utilizes multiple data sources for triangulation and comprehensive analysis.
• Employs validated measures for accurate data collection.
• Considers potential challenges and proposes solutions for improving data quality and validity.

Analyzing Classmates’ Plans:

I cannot access individual posts to analyze your classmates’ plans specifically. However, I can provide general questions and suggestions that you can use to evaluate their research data collection methods:

• Are their chosen methods appropriate for their research question and context?
• Do they address potential biases and confounding variables?
• Are their data sources reliable and valid?
• Do they have a plan for managing missing data?
• Have they considered ethical considerations in data collection and participant anonymity?

Remember, a well-designed data collection plan is crucial for obtaining reliable and valid results that contribute to meaningful research findings. Encourage your classmates to be comprehensive and critical in their data collection approach.