Objective 2.  A strategy our NDNQI data team used to present data related to patient falls will be described. 

Quarterly data provided by the National Database for Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) come in the form of detailed statistical analyses.  While these reports are well done, interpreting and understanding the statistical and clinical significant of the data is intimidating for most bedside clinicians and hospital administrators.  Our NDNQI data team, lead by a nurse researcher, have developed data reporting forms that display and interpret data so that both clinicians and administrators can understand, interpret and utilize NDNQI data to improve patient outcomes.  

Data presented in numeric form in the NDNQI quarterly reports (i.e., frequencies, percentiles, ranges, and quartiles) are transferred into histograms, line graphs, and easy to read tables.  Because our bedside clinicians are presented with a multitude of quality indicators it is often difficult for them to interpret if data trending upward means a positive or negative outcome.  From this we learned that cues about the trend of the data are very important for assisting with interpretation.  For example, we insert a positive image (i.e., smiley face, or a “thumbs –up”) onto the graphs if their data is trending in a positive direction.  The opposite images are used for data trending in a negative direction.  Initially we worried that the bedside clinicians would think this was too fundamental, but our team has received very positive feedback about the “quick look” format. 

Presenting quality data related to patient falls was a particular challenge for our NDNQI data team.  This was because many had trouble understanding the unit used in the data analyses (i.e., number of falls/1,000 patient days).  We translated this data (# of falls/1,000 patient days) into the actual number of falls.  This created an important visual for our staff and demystified this statistic.  Interestingly, many of the hospital units now use this number as a benchmark value for their staff to use as an indicator of quality. 

Data provided by the NDNQI researchers is invaluable for process improvement efforts, however, understanding the clinical significance of the data in the numeric form it is provided to facilities can be challenging.  The NDNQI data team at our facility has used innovative ways to display and present data so that it is easily, and quickly understood.