Effectiveness of Time Management Training Program on Patient Quality of Care Performed by Nurses Working in Intensive Care Units in the West Bank Government Hospitals

Abstract

Introduction: Nursing is an intense and focused profession, so choosing the perfect time and managing it well will assist in improving the quality of care, managing work properly, and accomplishing the patient's outcome. Aim: The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of time management training program for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses and its implication on the quality of nursing care provided for patients in Palestinian government hospitals. Method: A quasi-experimental design was used. A sample of 190 nurses working in the ICU in West Bank hospitals participated (intervention n=91; control n=99), and completed a questionnaire to test the study variables on two occasions: before the intervention, and three months after the intervention for both groups. The second tool was an observation checklist to check for quality of care for patients in ICU. The intervention was a training program on time management, which included topics on explaining, planning, prioritizing, goal setting, time commitment, and time wasting. Analysis of categorical variables was undertaken using descriptive statistics, and ANOVA inferential statistics were used to compare the results within and between groups. Results: The participants’ socio demographic characteristics indicated that nurses were almost equal in terms of gender (the females 51.6% and 48.4% were males), 74% were young and their ages ranged from 25 to 34 years with a work experience from 6 to 10 years. Most of participants 71.6% were bachelor's degree holders and 17.4% were Master degree holders vs. 11.1% were diploma holders VI The intervention group mean time management score increased significantly after the intervention, but there was no statistical significant difference in the control group. The results also showed significant change in the mean score of time management 3 months after the intervention between the intervention and control groups (P<0.001). Following the intervention, the mean score of quality of care increased significantly in the intervention group, while there was no significant difference in the control group between times. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that time management education training enhanced the nurses’ knowledge of these skills (time planning, time prioritizing, goal setting, time commitment, and time wasting), which improve quality of care. Nurses were able to make good use of their time in a work shift by teaching time management dimension; planning, prioritizing, goal setting, time commitment, and time wasting. Recommendations: Application of time management in nursing education, and curriculum may enhance the standard and quality of care. Time management is a culturally related concept that is needed to be highlighted for nurses specifically. Include time management education within the health professions in general and nursing curricula in specific at the university level to have effective nursing care services that ultimately will be reflected on the quality of care provided. Key Words: intensive care unit; nursing; time management, quality of care.