Interpreting Risk and Impact Measures in Nursing Research: Implications for Evidencebased Practice.
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| Title: | Interpreting Risk and Impact Measures in Nursing Research: Implications for Evidencebased Practice. |
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| Alternate Title: | Interpretando las medidas de riesgo e impacto en la investigación en enfermería: Implicancias para la práctica basada en evidencia. Interpretação de medidas de risco e impacto em pesquisas de enfermagem: implicações para a prática baseada em evidências. |
| Authors: | Barría P., R. Mauricio1 rbarria@uach.cl |
| Source: | Investigación & Educación en Enfermería. Jan-Apr2026, Vol. 44 Issue 1, p1-14. 14p. |
| Subjects: | RESPIRATORY distress syndrome treatment, EVIDENCE-based nursing, RISK assessment, MATHEMATICAL variables, MORTALITY, CHLORHEXIDINE, DATA analysis, PATIENT safety, NEONATAL intensive care units, SCIENTIFIC observation, RELATIVE medical risk, DECISION making in clinical medicine, NURSING, NURSING interventions, EVALUATION of medical care, POSTNATAL care, NEONATAL intensive care, RETROSPECTIVE studies, RANDOMIZED controlled trials, ODDS ratio, NURSING research, STATISTICS, RESEARCH, HEALTH outcome assessment, CONFIDENCE intervals, SURVIVAL analysis (Biometry), PROPORTIONAL hazards models |
| Abstract (English): | Objective. To analyze the conceptual foundations, calculation, and interpretation of key risk and impact measures used in nursing research, emphasizing their relevance for evidence-based clinical practice. Content synthesis. This article reviews measures of risk or association, including relative risk, odds ratio, and hazard ratio, as well as absolute impact measures, such as risk difference, absolute and relative risk reduction, absolute risk increase, and numbers needed to treat and harm. Using examples from recent primary studies conducted in clinically relevant nursing contexts, the manuscript illustrates step-by-step calculations and interpretations, highlighting the complementary roles of relative and absolute measures in clinical decision-making. Conclusion. An integrated understanding of risk and impact measures is essential for critical appraisal of nursing research and to assess the real clinical relevance of interventions. The combined use of these measures supports more informed, safe, and context-sensitive nursing care decisions, reinforcing evidence-based nursing practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Abstract (Spanish): | Objetivo. Analizar los fundamentos conceptuales, el cálculo y la interpretación de las principales medidas de riesgo y de impacto utilizadas en la investigación en enfermería, destacando su utilidad para la práctica clínica basada en evidencia. Síntesis del contenido. Se revisan las medidas de riesgo o asociación, como el riesgo relativo, odds ratio y hazard ratio, así como las medidas de impacto absoluto, incluyendo la diferencia de riesgos, la reducción y aumento absoluto del riesgo, la reducción relativa del riesgo y los números necesarios a tratar y dañar. Mediante ejemplos provenientes de estudios primarios recientes en contextos clínicos relevantes para la enfermería, se ilustra el cálculo paso a paso de estas medidas y su correcta interpretación, enfatizando las diferencias entre efectos relativos y absolutos y su complementariedad en la toma de decisiones clínicas. Conclusión. La comprensión integrada de las medidas de riesgo y de impacto es esencial para una adecuada lectura crítica de la literatura científica y para valorar la relevancia clínica real de las intervenciones de enfermería. El uso conjunto de estas medidas permite apoyar decisiones de cuidado más informadas, seguras y contextualizadas, fortaleciendo la práctica de enfermería basada en evidencia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Abstract (Portuguese): | Objetivo. Analisar os fundamentos conceituais, o cálculo e a interpretação das principais medidas de risco e de impacto utilizadas na pesquisa em enfermagem, destacando sua utilidade para a prática clínica baseada em evidências. Síntese do conteúdo. São revisadas as medidas de risco ou associação, como risco relativo, odds ratio e hazard ratio, bem como as medidas de impacto absoluto, incluindo diferença de riscos, redução e aumento absoluto do risco, redução relativa do risco e números necessários para tratar e para causar dano. A partir de exemplos de estudos primários recentes em contextos clínicos relevantes para a enfermagem, são apresentados os cálculos e a interpretação dessas medidas, enfatizando a complementaridade entre medidas relativas e absolutas na tomada de decisão clínica. Conclusão. A compreensão integrada das medidas de risco e de impacto é fundamental para a leitura crítica da literatura científica e para a avaliação da relevância clínica das intervenções em enfermagem. O uso conjunto dessas medidas contribui para decisões de cuidado mais informadas, seguras e contextualizadas, fortalecendo a prática baseada em evidências. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | MedicLatina |
| Abstract: | Objective. To analyze the conceptual foundations, calculation, and interpretation of key risk and impact measures used in nursing research, emphasizing their relevance for evidence-based clinical practice. Content synthesis. This article reviews measures of risk or association, including relative risk, odds ratio, and hazard ratio, as well as absolute impact measures, such as risk difference, absolute and relative risk reduction, absolute risk increase, and numbers needed to treat and harm. Using examples from recent primary studies conducted in clinically relevant nursing contexts, the manuscript illustrates step-by-step calculations and interpretations, highlighting the complementary roles of relative and absolute measures in clinical decision-making. Conclusion. An integrated understanding of risk and impact measures is essential for critical appraisal of nursing research and to assess the real clinical relevance of interventions. The combined use of these measures supports more informed, safe, and context-sensitive nursing care decisions, reinforcing evidence-based nursing practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 01205307 |
| DOI: | 10.17533/udea.iee.v44n1e14 |
