Influence of oncology nurses' decision-making and personality traits on missed nursing care and related factors: A correlational study

Purpose

To identify Missed Nursing Care (MNC) and related factors, as well as analyze the influence of nurses’ decision-making and personality traits on MNC in two Portuguese hospitals dedicated to cancer care.

Methods

A cross-sectional, multicentric, descriptive-correlational study was conducted using a convenience sample of 298 nurses working in two hospitals dedicated to cancer care. Data were collected in the first semester of 2023 using a questionnaire that included sociodemographic and professional questions and the Portuguese versions of the MISSCARE Survey, the Nursing Decision-Making Instrument (NDMI-PT), and the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI-P).

Results

Nurses missed care occasionally, namely in the dimensions related to Patient empowerment/autonomy care and Efficacy of feeding and medication. Staffing, Patient volume and acuity, and Management and organization were moderate to significant reasons for MNC. The flexible decision-making style was predominant (81.5%). The most prevalent personality traits were Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Openness to experience. Significant correlations were found between the four stages of the decision-making process and the personality traits and several dimensions of MNC. Data collection to assess a patient's condition was negatively correlated with Team communication and Material resources. Similarly, the Emotional stability trait was negatively correlated with Team communication and Patient volume and acuity.

Conclusions

This study identified MNC and factors that can influence the quality of care. It is crucial to promote nurses’ training and specialization within healthcare teams, with a particular focus on enhancing some of their personality traits to make them more effective and efficient therapeutic agents.