Purpose: To determine the sensitivity and responsiveness of the Outcome and Assessment
Information Set (OASIS) and the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) to the effects
of home healthcare nursing interventions.
Methods: A quasi-experimental before-after study was conducted using a sample of 106 home
healthcare participants referred to one of seven participating Midwest home healthcare
agencies for treatment of a cardiac condition. Patient outcomes data were collected at
home healthcare admission and discharge using OASIS and NOC. Nursing intervention
data were collected at each visit using the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC).
Intervention intensity was calculated by totaling the number of NIC interventions provided
over the episode of care.
Findings: Neither OASIS norNOCwere sensitive to the effects of home healthcare nursing as
measured by intervention intensity. The OASIS was not responsive to clinically discernable
changes in patient outcomes; while the NOC was responsive to patient status change in
the outcome categories including activities of daily living, cardiopulmonary status, coping,
and illness management behavior.
Conclusions: Outcome measures that are more condition-specific and discipline-specific are
more responsive to the effects of home healthcare nursing. Further research is needed to
identify and refine outcome measures that are sensitive and responsive to the effects of
nursing care in home health and other nursing settings.
Clinical Relevance: The use of outcome measures that are more sensitive and responsive to
nursing are more effective in guiding nursing practice.