[TOSS (time oriented score system): definition of the nurse/patient relations based on the timing of the workload. Validation during the stay. Gruppo Italiano Multicentrico di Ricerche in Terapia Intensiva (GIRTI)].
TOSS, together with severity of illness (SAPS) and intensity of processes (TISS), has been determined in 941 patients on the 9th day of ICU stay, to ascertain the validity of TOSS in the calculation of the nurse/patient ratio, not only at the time of admission to ICU but also during the stay. The mean values of all indexes measured on day 9 proved lower than those measured on day 1. When the patient population were divided into survivors and non survivors, the above finding held true for surviving patients, while only TISS showed such behavior in patients who eventually died. On the contrary, both TOSS and SAPS on day 9 were not significantly different from those on day 1. Moreover, overall TOSS and TISS were linearly correlated on both occasions; however, the slope of regression lines were significantly different for the two measurements. Specifically, TOSS grew less rapidly, as a function of TISS, on day 1 compared to day 9; this yields, at equal TOSS value, a lower TISS value on day 9 compared to day 1. Therefore, TOSS demonstrates to be a suitable index to determine the nurse/patient ratio, more reliable and straightforward to be measured than TISS.
D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016526:Workload
TOSS (time oriented score system): definizione del rapporto infermiere/paziente basata sulla temporizzazione del carico di lavoro. Valutazione durante la degenza. Gruppo Italiano Multicentrico di Ricerche in Terapia Intensiva (GIRTI).