Evaluation of the effectiveness of nursing interventions in research from Brazilian postgraduation programs

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate research from Brazilian postgraduate students who provide evidence of effectiveness for Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC).

Methods

We conducted a literature review study of thesis and dissertations available in the Brazilian Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses (D/T) in May 2021 regardless of the year they were conducted. In those studies that did not utilize the NIC in the effectiveness evaluation, the cross-mapping methodology was employed between NIC and the interventions used by the authors of the studies.

Results

Using a systematic process, we identified 91 studies. Twenty-seven met a priori inclusion and exclusion criteria. We found an increase in studies that focused on nursing interventions in the last 10 years (n = 19), a large proportion of clinical trials (n = 16), and the majority of articles from the Southeast region of Brazil (n = 20). The areas of focus were adult and elderly care, and with a special interest in the behavioral domain (n = 11). Two sensitivity criteria were identified in all D/T (n = 27), and each study presented evidence of effectiveness of a minimum of three criteria simultaneously.

Conclusions

Based on the effectiveness criteria, the Brazilian scientific production in postgraduate programs carried out by nurses provides evidence of the effectiveness for NIC nursing interventions.

Implications for nursing practice

It is recommended to conduct further research that uses the NIC in the planning, conduct, and evaluation of interventions, based on effectiveness criteria of nursing sensitivity.