Revising the Belgian Nursing Minimum Dataset: from concept to implementation.
The process of revising the Belgian Nursing Minimum Dataset (B-NMDS) started in 2000 and entailed four major phases. The first phase (June-October 2002) involved the development of a conceptual framework based on a literature review and secondary data analysis. The Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) was selected as a framework for the revision of the original B-NMDS. The second phase (November 2002-September 2003) focused on language development for six care programs evaluated by panels of clinical experts (N=75). These panels identified the following items as priorities for the revised B-NMDS: hospital financing, nurse staffing allocation, assessment of the appropriateness of hospitalisation, and quality management. During this period, we developed a draft instrument with 92 variables using the NIC. This led to an alpha version of a revised B-NMDS. The third phase (October 2003-December 2004) focused on data collection and validation of the new tool. The revised B-NMDS (alpha version) was tested in 158 nursing wards in 66 Belgian hospitals from December 2003 until March 2004. This test generated data for some 95,000 in-patient days. The interrater reliability of the revised B-NMDS was assessed. The criterion-related validity of the revised B-NMDS was compared to that of the original B-NMDS. The discriminative power of the revised B-NMDS was also assessed to select the most relevant variables for data collection. This resulted in a beta version of the revised B-NMDS in December 2004. The records of the revised B-NMDS were linked to the Hospital Discharge Dataset and other mandatory datasets to integrate the revised B-NMDS into the overall healthcare management system. The fourth phase (January 2005-December 2005) is presently focusing on information management. Nationwide implementation is foreseen by January 2007.
Sermeus
Walter
W
Centre for Health Services Research, Catholic University of Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35/4, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Walter.Sermeus@med.kuleuven.be
van den Heede
Koen
K
Michiels
Dominik
D
Delesie
Lucas
L
Thonon
Olivier
O
Van         Boven
Caroline
C
Codognotto
Jean
J
Gillet
Pierre
P
D001530:Belgium; D016208:Databases, Factual; D019451:Information Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D048108:Nursing Informatics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012984:Software; D012986:Software Validation