Development of Psychiatric Inpatient Classification System based on Nursing Care Needs

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Psychiatric Inpatient Classification System (PICS) based on nursing care needs of psychiatric inpatients. Methods: The preliminary items of the PICS based on the Korean Patients Classification System-1 (KPCS-1) were revised through literature review and interviews with psychiatric nurses. Content validity was assessed by 11 psychiatric nursing experts. In a convenience sample of 154 psychiatric inpatients, nurses reported nursing activities performed for their patients using the PICS. Criterion validity of the PICS was evaluated by testing correlation between the PICS and the Subjective Patient Classification (SPC). To identify groups of patients, the cluster analysis was performed with the PICS as a cluster variable, and cluster analysis was used. Results: The final PICS comprised 12 nursing areas, 61 nursing activities, and 104 items. Significant correlation between the PICS and the SPC showed criterion validity of the PICS. Conclusion: Results suggest a patient classification system based on psychiatric nursing needs. This will improve the quality of psychiatric nursing by providing substantial data on an appropriate ratio of psychiatric nursing staffing.