Objective: One of the objectives of this study was to evaluate, through the identification, collection and analysis of measurable outcome indicators, the impact of an intervention to improve the quality of nurses’ work life on nursing and patient outcomes in inpatient care settings in 8 community and teaching hospitals in Ontario, Canada.
Methods: A descriptive, repeated measures design was used to determine the association between the quality work life intervention and outcomes.
Sampling/Setting: A total of 16 medical or surgical patient care units from within 8 randomly selected hospitals participated in the study. Assuming a 70% participation rate the sample of nurses required and attained across the eight sites was between 168 to 392 participants and enabled us to detect a moderate-to-large effect size, from pre-test to 6 months follow up. Four independent samples of patients were included in the study: at pre-test, before the nurses’ training and the implementation of the intervention; the second, third and fourth at post-test, 3-month and 6-month follow-up respectively. Setting the alpha at .05 and the beta at .80, 200 patients at each occasion of measurement was needed and obtained to detect a small-to-moderate effect.
Variables: The nurse outcome variables examined included: McCloskey-Mueller Satisfaction Scale; Work Quality Index; Perceived Effectiveness of Care and Nursing Leadership; Role Tension and Job Stress. The patient outcome variables examined included: Activities if Daily Living; therapeutic self-care; patient satisfaction; and patient judgement of hospital quality.
Findings/Conclusions: This research suggests that interventions designed to improve the quality of nurses’ work life can influence outcomes.
Implications: The study results provide important information on the influence of an intervention to improve nurses’ work life on nurse and patient outcomes. The implications of these findings for nurses and the nursing profession will be discussed and suggestions for policy changes will be presented.
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