J Korean Clin Nurs Res.  2021 Aug;27(2):199-209. 10.22650/JKCNR.2021.27.2.199.

A Comparative Study on the Nursing Dependency of Suspected COVID-19 Patients and General Patients in the Emergency Department

• Baik SY
• Park SM
• Jeong JH
• Kim MJ
• Park SB
• Lee HJ
• Choi JY
• Kwak HE
• Lim JH
• Lee HS

• KMID: 2519630
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22650/JKCNR.2021.27.2.199

Abstract

Purpose
This study was conducted to investigate the nursing needs and workload of nurses according to nursing dependency for effective placement of nursing staff in the emergency department (ED).
Methods
In June 2020, 256 adult patients who visited the ED were classified as two groups, suspected COVID-19 patients and general patients. The participants’electronic medical records were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, x 2 -test, and Fisher's exact test using the SPSS.
Results
The patient dependence score showed a significant difference between the two groups, with an average of 13.99±1.85 for the suspected COVID-19 patient group and 10.58±2.10 for the general patient group (t=12.42, p<.001). There were statistically significant differences in communication (t=3.28, p=.001), mobility (t=3.29, p=.001), nutrition, elimination, and personal care (t=7.34, p<.001) among the six domains of nursing dependency. In the domains of environment, safety, health, and social needs, the dependency score was 3 for all suspected COVID-19 patients and 1 for all general patients.
Conclusion
The results of this study confirmed that infection control activities of emergency patients who need isolation affect the patients’ nursing dependency on nursing care.

Keyword

COVID-19; Emergency Department; Nursing Staff; Nursing Dependency