Exploring the Humanistic Care Competencies of Nurses in Infectious Disease Hospitals in China: A Modified Delphi Study

ABSTRACT

Aim

This study aims to develop an indicator system for assessing the humanistic care competencies of nurses in infectious disease hospitals and provide a scientific measurement tool to understand the current humanistic care competencies level of infectious disease nurses.

Design

A mixed-methods design integrating qualitative interviews and a modified Delphi study.

Methods

Initially, we derived a list of potential indicators of humanistic care for nurses in infectious disease hospitals from literature reviews and interviews with a nominal group technique (n=41). Following this, 26 experts from across China participated in two Delphi rounds from May to July 2023. Then the indicators were screened, revised and supplemented using the boundary value method and expert opinions. Next, the hierarchical analysis method was utilised to determine the weights of the indicators.

Results

The average effective response rate across the two Delphi rounds was 94%. The authority coefficients for the first and second rounds were 0.85 and 0.90, respectively, suggesting the experts were highly authoritative. There was a consistent rating among experts with a coordination coefficient for each indicator (p < 0.001). Ultimately, this study identified 4 primary indicators, 8 secondary indicators, and 35 tertiary indicators. The four primary indicators and their weights are basic care competency (0.158), therapeutic care competency (0.544), spiritual care competency (0.158) and safety care competency (0.140).

Conclusion

This research provides a scientifically rigorous and comprehensive framework to evaluate the humanistic care competencies of nurses in infectious disease hospitals in China. This system will serve as an effective tool for evaluating the humanistic care competencies of nurses in specialized infectious disease hospitals in China and other overseas regions.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

This study provides a new tool to assess the humanistic care competencies of nurses in infectious disease hospitals. Form an effective humanistic care competencies index system that can be used to build and develop the need for nurses to possess different aspects of humanistic care competencies tailored to infectious disease patients in hospitals.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patients or public contribution.