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Table 3 Call-light related characteristics: The results as the variables reported by frequencies

From: Perspectives of staff nurses of the reasons for and the nature of patient-initiated call lights: an exploratory survey study in four USA hospitals

 

All (n = 808)

Hosp. 1 (n = 459)

Hosp. 2 (n = 119)

Hosp. 3 (n = 47)

Hosp. 4 (n = 183)

 

Variable/Frequency (valid percent)

Freq. (%)

Freq. (%)

Freq. (%)

Freq. (%)

Freq. (%)

 

Selection of the reasons of patient-initiated call lights:

     

Note: For each reason, the frequencies that were ≥ 90% are in bold.

(1) Extremely urgent medical problem

546 (68)

318 (69)

78 (66)

31 (66)

119 (65)

 

(2) Bathroom assistance

778 (96)

442 (96)

114 (96)

45 (96)

177 (97)

 

(3) Intravenous problems/pump alarm

770 (95)

436 (95)

114 (96)

46 (98)

174 (95)

 

(4) Pain medication and management

779 (96)

442 (96)

114 (96)

47 (100)

176 (96)

 

(5) Repositioning or transfer

746 (92)

425 (93)

110 (92)

43 (92)

168 (92)

 

(6) Personal assistance

758 (94)

428 (93)

111 (93)

46 (98)

173 (95)

 

(7) Obtaining information

680 (84)

375 (82)

105 (88)

43 (92)

157 (86)

 

(8) Getting attention only

609 (75)

357 (78)

86 (72)

39 (83)

127 (69)

 

(9) Demanding a nurse's presence

655 (81)

371 (81)

101 (85)

39 (83)

144 (79)

 

(10) Accidentally pushed the call light

749 (93)

425 (93)

108 (91)

43 (92)

173 (95)

 

The frequency of each identified reason being ranked as the most prevalent reason:

     

Note: Each participant may assign two or more than two of the selected reasons the same frequency level. The highest three frequencies for each reason are in bold.

(1) Extremely urgent medical problem

7 (1.5)

3 (1)

2 (3)

2 (7)

1 (1)

 

(2) Bathroom assistance

438 (57)

217 (50)

69 (62)

26 (58)

126 (72)

 

(3) Intravenous problems/pump alarm

193 (25)

127 (29)

23 (21)

12 (26)

31 (18)

 

(4) Pain medication and management

324 (42)

196 (45)

36 (32)

17 (36)

75 (43)

 

(5) Repositioning or transfer

78 (11)

35 (8)

6 (6)

6 (14)

31 (19)

 

(6) Personal assistance

130 (17)

72 (17)

16(15)

9 (20)

33 (19)

 

(7) Obtaining information

28 (4)

7 (2)

5 (5)

6 (14)

10 (7)

 

(8) Getting attention only

23 (4)

12 (4)

4 (5)

4 (11)

3 (3)

 

(9) Demanding a nurse's presence

19 (3)

11 (3)

2 (2)

1 (10)

2 (2)

 

(10) Accidentally pushed the call light

20 (3)

11 (3)

2 (2)

6 (14)

1 (1)

 

Variable/Frequency (valid percent)

Freq. (%)

Freq. (%)

Freq. (%)

Freq. (%)

Freq. (%)

Pearson χ 2 test (P)

Opinion whether most of the call lights matter to patients' safety?

     

χ 2 = 31. 78 (P = .001**, Phi = .21)

   Yes

373 (49)

182 (42)

50 (49)

24 (55)

117 (67)

 

   No

380 (51)

225 (58)

53 (51)

22 (46)

57 (33)

 

Opinion whether most of the calls require nursing staff's attention and nursing care?

     

χ 2 = 4.02 (P = .26)

   Yes

406 (52)

227 (51)

68 (60)

25 (54)

86 (49)

 

   No

372 (48)

215 (49)

45 (40)

21 (46)

91 (51)

 

Opinion whether most of the reasons for call lights are meaningful?

     

χ 2 = 7.16 (P = .07)

   Yes

604 (77)

328 (74)

89 (79)

39 (83)

148 (83)

 

   No

177 (23)

115 (25)

24 (21)

8 (17)

30 (17)

 

Opinion whether answering call lights prevents you from doing the critical aspects of your role?

     

χ 2 = 9.25 (P = .03*, Phi = .11)

   Yes

408 (53)

250 (57)

61 (56)

21 (46)

75 (44)

 

   No

356 (47)

189 (43)

48 (44)

25 (54)

94 (56)

 
  1. *P < .05.
  2. **P < .01.