Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) management is a complex healthcare challenge, and effective nursing care plans are crucial for improved patient outcomes. Standardized Nursing Care Plans (SNCP), utilizing the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) framework, offer a structured approach to enhance nursing data management and potentially improve patient health. A recent study investigated the impact of SNCP implementation on metabolic control, weight management, and blood pressure in patients with T2DM.
This two-year prospective study, conducted across 31 primary health care centers in Spain, involved a substantial cohort of 24,124 T2DM outpatients. Researchers compared outcomes between patients receiving Usual Nursing Care (UNC) and those managed with SNCP, identified using NANDA and Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) taxonomies within Computerized Clinical Records.
The study revealed that patients in the SNCP group demonstrated improvements in several key health parameters over the two-year follow-up period. Specifically, significant enhancements were observed in glycemic control, particularly for patients who were poorly controlled at the outset (HbA1c ≥7%). While most parameters showed positive trends in the SNCP group, diastolic blood pressure also saw a statistically significant reduction, although the clinical relevance of this specific reduction was considered minor. Notably, when comparing the degree of improvement between the groups, the SNCP approach led to greater differences in control values for crucial indicators like diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c, LDL-cholesterol, and Body Mass Index. However, statistically significant improvement was uniquely confirmed for HbA1c levels. Furthermore, a higher proportion of patients in the SNCP group, who initially presented with HbA1c ≥7%, successfully achieved a reduction to below this threshold, indicating better glycemic management.
In conclusion, the utilization of SNCP, based on NANDA nursing diagnosis care plans, proves to be a valuable tool in achieving glycemic control targets, especially for T2DM patients with initially poor glycemic control. While modest improvements were noted in diastolic blood pressure, the study underscores the potential of standardized nursing language and care planning to positively influence diabetes management and patient outcomes. This research highlights the importance of integrating SNCP into routine clinical practice to optimize nursing care for individuals living with T2DM.
