PhD in Nursing Science Program

A Description of Health Services Research Variables and Moderate Sedation in Interventional Radiology

Dissertation under the direction of Dr. Ann Minnick

There is limited information that describes health services research variables that relate to patients receiving moderate sedation in interventional radiology (IR). In order to direct the future study of outcomes for this population, there must first be an understanding of the variables that may influence these outcomes. This study follows the first step of the research continuum ( describing, relating, and then determining cause) to describe the organizational facets, employment terms, and labor (quality and quantity), through the use of survey methodology. A mailed survey was sent to a sample of hospitals from the American Hospital Association Dataset offering IR services (n = 510; response rate 16.8%, total respondents= 82). Descriptive statistical summaries illustrated variation in concurrent patient care, employee shift length, hours of operation, employment of CRNAs, medication administration privileges, the organization of patient care, total number of cases, the use of capnography, moderate sedation training, and number of full-time employees. These results suggest that essential points for future study should include radiology workflow, nurse to patient ratios, the utilization of different types of anesthesiology providers, moderate sedation competencies, specific training requirements, and education. Future exploration ofthis area is based on the importance of this topic for quality, safety, cost, and patient care. The continued study of outcomes for this patient population will significantly benefit other areas where nurse administered moderate sedation is performed as well as those seeking care in the exceptional and technologically advanced specialty that is interventional radiology.