Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (T2DM) poses a significant global health challenge, necessitating effective management strategies to mitigate its complications and improve patient quality of life. Nursing care plans are fundamental tools in diabetes management, providing a structured approach to patient care. Standardized Nursing Care Plans (SNCP), utilizing taxonomies like the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) and Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC), aim to streamline nursing data management and potentially enhance patient outcomes. However, the actual impact of SNCP on patient health has been a subject of ongoing research.
A recent study investigated the effectiveness of SNCP implementation in improving the health of individuals with T2DM. This prospective two-year follow-up study, conducted across 31 primary health care centers in Spain, involved a large cohort of 24,124 T2DM outpatients. The research compared “Usual Nursing Care” (UNC) with care delivered using SNCP, specifically focusing on metabolic control, weight management, and blood pressure regulation. Data was meticulously collected from Computerized Clinical Records, with SNCP identified through NANDA and NIC classifications.
The study revealed insightful findings regarding the impact of SNCP. The patient population was divided into two groups: a UNC group (18,320 patients) and a SNCP group (5,168 patients). After two years, the SNCP group demonstrated improvements in several key health parameters, with the exception of LDL cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure when initially observed. However, after adjusting for baseline values and other statistically significant variables, the analysis indicated a reduction in most parameters in the SNCP group, with diastolic blood pressure showing a statistically significant decrease. Despite this statistical significance, the clinical relevance of the adjusted diastolic blood pressure reduction was considered limited.
Interestingly, the study highlighted greater differences in control values for diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c (a key marker for glycemic control), LDL-cholesterol, and Body Mass Index within the SNCP group. Notably, these differences reached statistical significance for HbA1c, suggesting a positive impact of SNCP on glycemic control. Furthermore, a higher proportion of patients in the SNCP group who initially had poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥7%) successfully reduced their HbA1c levels to below this threshold.
In conclusion, this study provides evidence that the utilization of Standardized Nursing Care Plans can be a valuable asset in achieving glycemic control targets, particularly for T2DM patients with previously uncontrolled blood sugar levels. While improvements in diastolic blood pressure were observed in the SNCP group compared to usual care, the clinical significance of this finding requires further consideration. The findings underscore the potential of SNCP as a tool to enhance nursing practice and improve outcomes in diabetes management, particularly in the critical area of glycemic control achieved through structured Nursing Care Plan Diagnosis For Diabetes.
