Global reasons for missed nursing care: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
BACKGROUND
While numerous studies have quantified the prevalence of reasons for missed care, a comprehensive synthesis of evidence across various health systems remains lacking.
AIM
To estimate the pooled prevalence of the reasons reported by nurses for missed care, using data from the MISSCARE surveys.
INTRODUCTION
Missed nursing care, which refers to any aspect of essential patient care that is omitted or delayed, presents substantial risks to patient safety and the quality of care.
METHODOLOGY
Four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus) were searched, without language restrictions. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to calculate prevalence estimates and evaluate heterogeneity via prediction intervals. Subgroup analyses were conducted to assess potential sources of heterogeneities. Time trends were estimated using linear regression modeling.
RESULTS
Twenty-eight studies (2011-2024) totaling 20768 nurses from 121 hospitals from 14 countries were included. The raw prevalence of missed care ranged from 6.8% to 98.1%, with a median of 56.4% (IQR: 41.0-75.4). The most frequently reported reasons were "unexpected rise in patient volume and/or acuity on the unit" (78.1%; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 71.5-54.1), "inadequate number of staff" (76.5%; 95% CI, 68.7-83.5), and "urgent patient situation" (73.5%; 95% CI, 66.6-79.9). Most of the investigated reasons for missed nursing…
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