Wondimeneh Shibabaw Shiferaw^1*, Tadesse Yirga Akalu ², Abate dargie wubetu¹, Yared Asmare Aynalem¹

¹Lecturer, Department of Nursing, College of Health Science, Debre Berhan

University

²Lecturer, Department of Nursing, College of Health Science, Debre markos

University

Correspondence Authors

Wondimeneh Shibabaw Shiferaw, BSc, MSc ¹*

Address: P.O. Box 445, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia

Institutional email: wshibabaw2015@dbu.edu.et

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4348-591x

Institutional web page: www.dbu.edu.et

Abstract

Background: Nursing Process is a scientific problem solving approach to direct nurses in caring for clients effectively and to improve quality of health care service. In Ethiopia, the national pooled prevalence of implementation of nursing process remains unknown. Hence, this systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to estimate the level of implementation of nursing process and it association with knowledge and working environment in Ethiopia.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, PsycINFO and CINAHL were systematically searched online to retrieve related articles. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline was followed. To investigate heterogeneity across the included studies, I² test was employed. Publication bias was examined using funnel plot and Egger’s regression test statistic. The random-effect model was fitted to estimate the summary effects, and odds ratios (ORs). All statistical analysis was done using STATA version 14 software for windows.

Results: Seven studies which comprise of 1,268 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The estimated pooled prevalence of implementation of nursing process in Ethiopia was 42.44% (95% CI (36.91, 47.97%)). Based on subgroup analysis the highest implementation of nursing process was observed where the sample size was greater than or equal to 200, 44.69% (95% CI: 35.34, 54.04). Working in the stressful environment [(OR 0.19, 95%CI (0.04, 0.76)] and having good theoretical knowledge of the nursing process [(OR 8.38, 95%CI (2.82, 24.86)] was significant associated with the implementation of nursing process.

Conclusion: The overall implementation of nursing process in Ethiopia was relatively low. Nurses working in a stressful environment were less likely to implement the nursing process; and nurses with a good knowledge of the nursing process were more likely to implement the nursing process. Therefore, policymakers (FMOH) and other concerned body need give special attention to improve the implementation of nursing process.

Key words: Nursing process, Implementation, Systematic review, Meta-analysis, Ethiopia