Impact of an emergency department nursing intervention on continuity of care, self-care, and psychological symptoms

Abstract

BACKGROUND The emergency department plays a crucial role in providing acute care to patients. Nursing interventions in this setting are essential for improving the continuity of care, enhancing patients’ self-care abilities, and reducing psychological symp-toms. AIM To evaluate the effect of nursing interventions in the emergency department on these indicators in an emergency department. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 120 patients admitted to the emergency department between January 2022 and May 2023. The patients were divided into two groups: The control group (conventional nursing intervention) and the observation group (conventional nursing intervention + emergency department nursing intervention). The two groups were compared regarding continuity of care, self-care ability, psychological symptoms, and satisfaction with care. RESULTS The emergency department nursing interventions significantly improved the continuity of care, enhanced patients’ self-care abilities, and reduced psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION Nursing interventions in the emergency department positively impact continuity of care, self-care, and psychological symptoms. However, it is important to acknowledge the limitations of this study, including the small number of studies, variable methodological quality, and the heterogeneity of the study population. Future research should address these limitations and further explore the effects of different types of nursing interventions in the emergency department. Additionally, efforts should be made to enhance the application and evaluation of these interventions in clinical practice.