Measuring the dose of nursing intervention

Abstract

Purpose: To increase awareness of the many issues involved in measuring the dose of nursing intervention in nursing interventions effectiveness research.

Methods: Identify critical issues in measurement of the dose of nursing intervention and discuss decisions regarding dosage measurement made in a study of the effectiveness of nursing interventions.

Findings: A single method can be applied to resolve two critical issues in intervention dosage measurement.

Conclusions: Those conducting nursing interventions effectiveness research must think explicitly about how intervention dosage will be measured and reported so that dosage can be replicated in research and practice.

Practice implications: Measuring and reporting the dose of nursing intervention in research is essential to the development of an evidence base adequate to support practice.