The oncology acuity tool: a reliable, valid method for measuring patient acuity for nurse assignment decisions.
OBJECTIVE
Matching nurse assignments with patient acuity has critical implications for providing safe, effective, and efficient care. Despite this, we lack well-established methods for accurate assessment of acuity. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Oncology Acuity Tool (OAT), which is used for determining nurse assignments.


METHODS
Inter-rater reliability and concurrent validity were assessed via surveys of current users of the tool. Content validity data were collected from expert oncology nurses. Predictive validity was assessed by tracking patients who sustained either of two acute events.


RESULTS
Findings included high inter-rater reliability, moderately strong concurrent validity, and moderate content validity. Acuity significantly predicted rapid response team consults but not falls.


CONCLUSIONS
The OAT demonstrated sufficient reliability and validity for measuring acuity prospectively in this population.
Veterans Affairs National Quality Scholars Program, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University, USA. cww2@case.edu
Caitlin W
CW
Brennan
Barbara J
BJ
Daly
Neal V
NV
Dawson
Patricia A
PA
Higgins
Katherine R
KR
Jones
Elizabeth
E
Madigan
Jeffrey
J
Van Der Meulen
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D003657:Decision Making; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D010361:Patients / Q000145:classification*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index