Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To identifyevidences of the influence of nursing workload on the occurrence of adverse events (AE) in adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

METHOD

A systematic literature review was conducted in the databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, LILACS, SciELO, BDENF, and Cochrane from studies in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, published by 2015. The analyzed AE were infection, pressure ulcer (PU), patient falls, and medication errors.

RESULTS

Of 594 potential studies, eight comprised the final sample of the review. TheNursing Activities Score (NAS; 37.5%) and the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System(TISS; 37.5%) were the instruments most frequently used for assessing nursing workload. Six studies (75.0%) identified the influence of work overload in events of infection, PU, and medicationerrors. An investigation found that the NAS was a protective factor for PU.

CONCLUSION

The nursing workload required by patients in the ICU influenced the occurrence of AE, and nurses must monitor this variable daily to ensure proper sizing of staff and safety of care.

Descriptors
Workload; Nursing, Team; Patient Safety; Intensive Care Unit; Review

Resumen

OBJETIVO

Identificar evidencias acerca de la influencia de la carga laboral de enfermería en la ocurrencia de eventos adversos (EA) en pacientes adultos ingresados en Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI).

MÉTODO

Revisión sistemática de la literatura llevada a cabo en las bases de datos MEDLINE, CINAHL, LILACS, SciELO, BDENF y Cochrane de estudios en inglés, portugués o español, publicados hasta 2015. Los EA analizados fueron infección, úlcera por presión (UPP), caídas y errores asociados con fármacos.

RESULTADOS

De las 594 investigaciones potenciales identificadas, ocho compusieron la muestra final de la revisión. El NursingActivities Score - NAS (37,5%) y el TherapeuticInterventionScoringSystem - TISS (37,5%) fueron los instrumentos más utilizados para evaluación de la carga laboral de enfermería. Seis investigaciones (75,0%) identificaron influencia de la sobrecarga laboral en la ocurrencia de infección, UPP y uso de fármacos. Una investigación identificó que el NAS fue factor de protección para UPP.

CONCLUSIÓN

La carga laboral de enfermería requerida por pacientes en la UCI influenció la ocurrencia de EA, y los enfermeros deben monitorear a diario dicha variable a fin de asegurar el correcto dimensionamiento del equipo y la seguridad de la asistencia prestada.

Descriptores
Carga de Trabajo; Grupo de Enfermería; Seguridad del Paciente; Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos; Revisión

Resumo

OBJETIVO

Identificar evidências sobre a influência da carga de trabalho de enfermagem na ocorrência de eventos adversos (EA) em pacientes adultos internados em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI).

MÉTODO

Revisão sistemática da literatura realizada nas bases de dados MEDLINE, CINAHL, LILACS, SciELO, BDENF e Cochrane deestudosem inglês, português ou espanhol, publicados até 2015. Os EA analisados foram infecção, úlcera por pressão (UPP), quedas e erros associados a medicamentos.

RESULTADOS

Das 594 pesquisas potenciais identificadas, oito compuseram a amostra final da revisão. O NursingActivities Score -NAS (37,5%) e o TherapeuticInterventionScoring System -TISS (37,5%) foram os instrumentos mais utilizados para avaliação da carga de trabalho de enfermagem. Seis pesquisas (75,0%) identificaram influência da sobrecarga de trabalho na ocorrência de infecção, UPP e uso de medicamentos. Uma investigação identificou que o NAS foi fator de proteção para UPP.

CONCLUSÃO

A carga de trabalho de enfermagem requerida por pacientes na UTI influenciou a ocorrência de EA, e os enfermeiros devem monitorar diariamente esta variável para garantir o correto dimensionamento da equipe e a segurança da assistência prestada.

Descritores
Carga de Trabalho; Equipe de Enfermagem; Segurança do Paciente; Unidades de Terapia Intensiva; Revisão

Introduction

A major challenge for managers in the hospital setting is to ensure patient safety, and one should consider the investigation of adverse events (AE)in the analysis of indicators of quality of care. In the intensive care unit (ICU), a department for the care of critically ill patients¹1 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Portaria n. 3432, 12 de agosto de 1998. Estabelece critérios de classificação entre diferentes Unidades de Tratamento Intensivo - UTI [Internet]. Brasília; 1998 [citado 2016 fev. 16]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/gm/1998/prt3432_12_08_1998.html
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis... ,there is a higher probability of occurrence of adverse events due to clinical instability of patients and the high number of interventions and devices to which they are subjected during treatment²2 Boyle D, O'Connell D, Platt FW, Albert RK. Disclosing error and adverse events in the intensive care unit. Crit Care Med. 2006;34(5):1532-7..

The occurrence of AE is to be discussed as one of the aspects that negatively impact patient safety, especially since 1999, with the release of the report To Err is Human by theInstitute of Medicine(IOM). This report was based on the evaluation of the incidence of AE that occurred in three hospitals in the United States of America (USA) that found that approximately 100,000 people die in USA hospitals everyyear, victims of AE, with a consequent significant increase in healthcare costs³3 Kohn LT, Corrigan JM, Donaldson MS;Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. To err is human: Building a Safer Health System. Washington: Institute of Medicine/National Academy Press; 2000..

Five years after the publication of this report, the World Health Organization (WHO) created the World Alliance for Patient Safety, which highlighted the main aspects of patient safety and the factors that can influence it, such as AE. According to the WHO's definition, incidents are events or circumstances which may result or have resulted in unnecessary harmto the patient, whereas AE are incidents arising from unintentional mistakes that cause measurable lesions⁴4 World Health Organization (WHO). More than words: conceptual framework for the international classification for patient safety. Version 1.1. Final Technical Report. Geneva: WHO; 2009. .

In 2013, the National Program of Patient Safety (PNSP, in Portuguese) was established in Brazil by the Ministry of Health, elaborating and implementing a set of basic protocols in health institutions⁵5 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Portaria n. 529, de 1º de abril de 2013. Institui o Programa Nacional de Segurança do Paciente (PNSP) [Internet]. Brasília; 2013 [citado 2016 jan. 15]. Disponível em: http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File/0SEGURANCA_DO_PACIENTE/Portaria5292013_1.pdf
http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File... .Ordinance No. 1,377 adopted on July 9, 2013, sets protocols for safe surgery, hand hygiene practices, and pressure ulcer avoidance⁶6 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Portaria n. 1.377, de 9 de julho de 2013. Aprova os Protocolos de Segurança do Paciente [Internet]. Brasília; 2013 [citado 2016 jan. 15]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File/0SEGURANCA_DO_PACIENTE/portaria1377_2013.pdf
http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File... . After a few months, a new ordinance was published (Ordinance No. 2,095, September 24, 2013) setting new protocols: prevention of falls, safety in prescribing and in the use and administration of medications, as well as in patient identification⁷7 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Portaria n. 2.095, de 24 de setembro de 2013. Aprova os Protocolos Básicos de Segurança do Paciente [Internet]. Brasília; 2013 [citado 2016 jan 15]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File/0SEGURANCA_DO_PACIENTE/portaria_2095_2013.pdf
http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File... .These protocols act as guides, setting standards that must be used in hospitals and support best practices with a focus on patient safety⁷7 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Portaria n. 2.095, de 24 de setembro de 2013. Aprova os Protocolos Básicos de Segurança do Paciente [Internet]. Brasília; 2013 [citado 2016 jan 15]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File/0SEGURANCA_DO_PACIENTE/portaria_2095_2013.pdf
http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File... .

In the intensive care environment, the quality of nursing care and patient safety depends not only on the qualification of professionals, but also on the appropriate quota of human resources available.However, health services still face extreme difficulty in matching the number of professionals with the demand, generally due to financial issues. The numerical and qualitative mismatch between human resources and the carerequired by patients in intensive care can lead to work overload and failures in the process of care⁸8 Magalhães AMM, Riboldi CO, Agnol CMD. Planejamento de recursos humanos de enfermagem: desafio para as lideranças. RevBrasEnferm [Internet]. 2009 [citado 2015 dez. 20];62(4):608-12. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v62n4/20.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v62n4/20.... .

Nursing workload can be defined as "work process elements that interact dynamically with each other and with the body of the worker, generating a process of adaptation which leads to wear"⁹9 Laurell AC, Noriega M. Processo de produção de saúde: trabalho e desgaste operário. São Paulo: Hucitec; 1989. p.109-18. . Acknowledging this load in the workplace is essential, since it is subject to control and reduction of undesirable effects¹⁰10 Kirchhof ALC, Lacerda MR, Sarquis LMM, Magnago TSB, Gomes IM. Compreendendo cargas de trabalho na pesquisa em saúde ocupacional na enfermagem. ColombMéd [Internet]. 2011 [citado 2015 dez. 23];42 Supl 1:113-19. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.bioline.org.br/pdf?rc11047
http://www.bioline.org.br/pdf?rc11047... . However, ignoring the importance of its measurement may cause a negative impact on the quality and safety of care to patients, due to the greater likelihood of AE.

Therefore, the assessment of nursing workload is a subject of great relevance, insofar as an oversized team implies higher costs. On the other hand, it is known that a reduced team can cause a drop in effectiveness and/or quality of care, extending the length of hospital stay and generating greater costsof treatment, in addition to exposing patients, staff, and the institution itself to the risk of not having safe care¹¹11 Tanos MAA, Massarollo MCKB, Gaidzinski RR. Dimensionamento de pessoal de enfermagem em uma unidade especializada em transplante de fígado: comparação do real com o preconizado. RevEscEnferm USP [Internet]. 2000 [citado 2015 nov. 15];34(4):376-82. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reeusp/v34n4/v34n4a09
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reeusp/v34n4/v3... ^-1212 Queijo AF, Padilha KG. Nursing Activities Score (NAS): cross-cultural adaptation and validation to Portuguese language. Rev Esc Enferm USP [Internet]. 2009 [cited 2015 Dec 15];43(n.spe):1018-25. Available from: Available from: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reeusp/v43nspe/en_a04v43ns.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reeusp/v43nspe/... .

Studies show thatan increase in hours of nursing care provided to patients is associated with adecrease in the occurrence of AE, such as: urinary tract infection;pressure ulcers; hospital-acquired pneumonia; wound infections; complications in central venous access; shock; thrombosis; medication errors; and postoperative complications¹³13 Aiken LH, Clarke SP, Cheung RB, Sloane DM, Silber JH. Educational levels of hospital nurses and surgical patient mortality. JAMA. 2003;290(12):1617-23. ^-1414 Needleman J, Buerhaus P, Matte S, Stewart M, Zelevinsky K. Nurse-staffing levels and the quality of care in hospitals. N Engl J Med. 2002;346(22):1715-22. . Another publication shows that the nursingworkload is a risk factor for death in the ICU¹⁵15 Kiekkas P, Sakellaropoulos GC, Brokalaki H, Manolis E, Adamantios S, Skartsani C, et al. Association between nursing workload and mortality of Intensive Care Unit patients. J NursScholarsh. 2008;40(4):385-90. .However, no systematic reviews were identified from the literature showing apossible relationship between workload and AE in the scope of nursing.

In this context, the authorsinquire: Is there an influence of nursing workload on the incidence of AE in patients admitted to the ICU? The answer to this question may provide contributions to intensive care managers and nurses in the use of nursing workload measurement tools in order to justifythe appropriate staff size in intensive care, ensuring care safety. The objective of the present review was to find evidence of the influence of nursing workload on the occurrence of AE (pressure ulcers, infection, falls, or medication errors) in adult patients admitted to the ICU.

Method

This is a systematic literature review, which consists of a rigorous synthesis of relevant results on a given theme, in which the main goal is to indicate the best available evidence on the effect of a particular therapy or intervention, so that professionals are aware of the best practices described in the literature¹⁶16 Galvão CM, Sawada NO, Trevizan MA. Revisão sistemática: recurso que proporciona a incorporação das evidências na prática da enfermagem. Rev Latino Am Enfermagem [Internet]. 2004 [citado 2016 jan. 5];12(3):549-56. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rlae/v12n3/v12n3a14.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rlae/v12n3/v12n... .

Data were collected through electronic search from October to November 2015 in the following databases: the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE);the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL);the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (LILACS);the database of nursing (BDENF); and the Cochrane library. The portal Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) was also analyzed. In addition, grey literature was analyzed through Google Scholar and a manual search was undertaken from the references cited in the articles selected.

Adverse events analyzed in this review include pressure ulcers, infections, falls, and medication errors. These events were selected from the proposal of the basic protocols previously described⁶6 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Portaria n. 1.377, de 9 de julho de 2013. Aprova os Protocolos de Segurança do Paciente [Internet]. Brasília; 2013 [citado 2016 jan. 15]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File/0SEGURANCA_DO_PACIENTE/portaria1377_2013.pdf
http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File... ^-77 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Portaria n. 2.095, de 24 de setembro de 2013. Aprova os Protocolos Básicos de Segurança do Paciente [Internet]. Brasília; 2013 [citado 2016 jan 15]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File/0SEGURANCA_DO_PACIENTE/portaria_2095_2013.pdf
http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File... .

The PICO strategy (which is an acronym for Patient, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcomes)¹⁷17 Santos CMC, Pimenta CAM, Nobre MRC. The PICO strategy for the research question construction and evidence search. Rev Latino Am Enfermagem [Internet] . 2007 [cited 2015 Oct 15];15(3):508-11. Available from: Available from: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rlae/v15n3/v15n3a23.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rlae/v15n3/v15n... , was used for the elaboration of the main question in this research. In order to find relevant studies that would respond to the studyquestion,indexed and non-indexed descriptors (keywords) were used inPortuguese, English, and Spanish. The descriptors were obtained from the Medical Subject Headings (MESH), the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS, in Portuguese), and CINAHL titles, as shown in the following chart.

The element C from the PICO strategy has not been addressed in this research, as this is not intended to compare interventions. The keywords (MESH and DeCS) and the titles from CINAHL were combined with the Boolean operators "OR" and "AND." The following criteria were used to guide the inclusion of articles in the review: studies published in full in national and international journals in English, Portuguese, or Spanish and whichmake use of instruments for measuring the workload of nursing in adult patients in the ICU. No filters were applied to the period of publication of the articles. Research on pediatric populations, as well as journaleditorials, letters to the editor, comments, theses, and dissertations were excluded from the sample.

Considering the singularitiesand distinctive features of the databases, the search was carried out using different strategies, as described in Chart 2.

Studies retrieved from the search strategy had their title and abstract evaluated, so as to identify those pertinent to the subject at hand. In studies where the given data were not enough to determine whether or not they should be included, the study in question was considered for the shortlist, so as to avoid mistaken exclusions.

Preselected studies were recovered in their entirety and analyzed independently by two researchers. In the case of disagreement between them, a third researcher conducted ananalysis of the research, so as to ensure the prevailing opinion of the majority.

To extract the data from the articles, we used an instrument containing the following information: title; author; journal; year and country of publication; research objectives; methodological design; measuring instrument of nursing workload used; type of adverse event analyzed; main results; and conclusions.

To assess the quality of the studies included in the review, two researchers independently applied the instrumentStrengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE), which consists of a checklist with 22 items about recommendations on what should be included in a more accurate and complete description of observational studies¹⁸18 Malta M, Cardoso LO, Bastos FI, Magnanini MMF, Silva CMFP. STROBE initiative: guidelines on reporting observational studies. Rev SaúdePública [Internet]. 2010 [cited 2015 Nov 7];44(3):559-65.Available from: Available from: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rsp/v44n3/en_21.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rsp/v44n3/en_21... . It should be noted that this analysis was carried out not for the purpose of exclusion, but for description of sample studies.

Due to the heterogeneity of the methodology of the studies included in the review, it was not possible to perform meta-analysis.

Results

From the search strategy employed, 596 potential studieswere recovered, with the largest number of studies found in the MEDLINE database (n = 345), followed by CINAHL (n = 226), LILACS (n = 14), BDENF (n = 6), SciELO (n = 3), and Cochrane (n = 2).

Figure 1 presents the process of study selection. Only eight of 37 studies preselected for reading in full met the eligibility criteria of this review and comprised the final sample.

None of the studies in Chart 3 showed agreementwith all items of the STROBE. However, all of the research in this review hasincluded at least 50% of the items. Of the eight studies included in the review, three (37.5%) were carried out in Brazil²³23 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...

24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^-2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... and two (25.0%) in Turkey²¹21 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70. ^,2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. . Chile¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90, Slovenia²⁰20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. ,and Belgium²²22 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40. contributed with one study each (12.5%).

The searches were performed between 2000 and 2013 and publishedbetween 2005 and 2015in English²⁰20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. ^,2222 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40. ^,2424 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91., Spanish¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90, Portuguese²⁵25 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... or in all three languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese²¹21 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70. ^,2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. . A total of six studies (75.0%) were published in international journals¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90

20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66.

21 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70.

22 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40.

23 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles... ^-2424 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.and two (25.0%) in national journals²⁵25 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... ^-2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. . There has been a higher percentage of prospective studies (75.0%)¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90

20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. ^-2121 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70. ^,2323 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...

24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^-2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... , especially of the cohort type¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90^-2020 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. ^,2323 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...

24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^-2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... .Retrospective investigations were performed less frequently (25.0%)²²22 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40. ^,2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. .

Chart 4 shows that the sample analyzed in the searchesranged from 79 to 970 patients in the ICU¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90

20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66.

21 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70.

22 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40.

23 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...

24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.

25 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... ^-2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. .Of the studies that described the characteristics of patients in the results²¹21 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70.

22 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40.

23 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles... ^-2424 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^,2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. , it was possible to identify the prevalence of women²¹21 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70. ^-2222 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40. ^,2424 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^,2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. ranging from 50.9 to 65.6 years of age²¹21 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70.

22 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40.

23 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles... ^-2424 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^,2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. . Regarding the instrument of workload applied, three studies (37.5%) used theNursing Activities Score (NAS)²³23 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...

24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^-2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... ,three (37.5%) the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS), either the original²⁰20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. or the version with 28 items¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90^,2222 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40. , and two (25.0%), the OmegaScoring System(Omega) and the Project de Recherché en Nursing(PRN)²¹21 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70. ^,2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. .

Regarding the types of AE, healthcare-associated infections (HAI) were examined in five studies(62.5%)¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90

20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. ^-2121 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70. ^,2323 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles... ^,2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. .Occurrence of pressure ulcer²⁴24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^-2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... was a less frequently investigated AE (25.0%), as was medication error (25.0%)²²22 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40. ^,2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... . Adverse events involving accidental loss of central venous catheter, obstruction or loss of the nasogastric tube, loss or damage tothe endotracheal tube cuff, loss of bloodline, and falls were also considered as AE in the Chilean study and were referred to as sentinel incidents by the authors¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90.

Most of the eight studies included in the review found an influence of nursing workload on the occurrence of different AE: infection²⁰20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. ^-2121 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70. ^,2323 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles... ^,2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. ,pressure ulcer²⁵25 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... , and drug use²²22 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40. ^,2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... . A Brazilian study that analyzed the occurrence of pressure ulcers in intensive care concluded that nursing workload was a protective factor for the outcome²⁴24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.. A study showed that the TISS-28 exerted influence only on mortality, that is, there was no relationship between nursing workload and the occurrence of sentinel incidents, including falls or infections, in the ICU¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90.

Discussion

From the full analysis of selected studies in this review¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90

20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66.

21 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70.

22 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40.

23 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...

24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.

25 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... ^-2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. , it was found that nursing workload influences the occurrence of AE in patients admitted to the ICU.

Regarding the instruments of measurement of nursing workload, there was a greater amount of studies that applied the NAS²³23 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...

24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^-2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... or the TISS¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90^-2020 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. ^,2222 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40. in patients analyzed. The NAS, developed by Miranda et al. in 2003, is an instrument that analyzes 23 items (nursing activities), with scores ranging from a minimum weight of 1.2 to a maximum of 32.0. The total score is obtained by summing the points, and directly expresses the percentage of time spent by a professional of the nursing staff in the care of a patient in critical condition over 24 hours²⁷27 Miranda DR, Nap R, de Rijk A, Schaufeli W, Iapichino G. Nursingactivities score. CritCare Med. 2003;31(3):374-82. The NAS was translated and validated in Brazil byQueijo and Padilha in 2009¹²12 Queijo AF, Padilha KG. Nursing Activities Score (NAS): cross-cultural adaptation and validation to Portuguese language. Rev Esc Enferm USP [Internet]. 2009 [cited 2015 Dec 15];43(n.spe):1018-25. Available from: Available from: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reeusp/v43nspe/en_a04v43ns.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reeusp/v43nspe/... .

Amongst the studies that used the NAS, all were carried out in Brazil and displayed meanvalues of nursing workload between 61.97% and 81.2%²³23 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...

24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^-2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... . These values are close to those of other studies that applied the NAS in Brazilian ICU²⁸28 Coelho FUA, Queijo AF, Andolhe R, Gonçalves LA, Padilha KG. Carga de trabalho de enfermagem em unidade de terapia intensivade cardiologia efatores clínicos associados. Texto Contexto Enferm [Internet]. 2011 [citado 2016 jan. 4];20(4):735-41. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/tce/v20n4/12.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/tce/v20n4/12.pd...

29 Gonçalves LA, Garcia PC, Toffoleto MC, Telles SCR, Padilha KG. Necessidades de cuidados de enfermagem em Terapia Intensiva: evolução diária dos pacientes segundo oNursingActivities Score (NAS). RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2006 [citado 2016 jan. 10];59(1):56-60. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v59n1/a11v59n1.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v59n1/a11... ^-3030 Balsanelli AP, Cunha ICKO, Whitaker IY. Nurses leadership styles in the ICU: association with personal and professional profile and workload. Rev Latino Am Enfermagem [Internet] . 2009 [cited 2016 Jan 10]; 17(1). Available from: Available from: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rlae/v17n1/05.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rlae/v17n1/05.p... . However, when analyzing the meanNAS scores in relation to international studies, discrepant results are found: approximately 41% NAS in Spanish studies³¹31 Adell AB, Campos RA, Cubedo RM, Quintana BJ, Sanahuja RE, Sanchís MJ, et al. Nursing Activity Score (NAS): our experience with a nursing load calculation system based on times. EnfermIntens. 2005;16(4):164-73.

32 Adell AB, Campos RA, Bou MY, Bellmunt JQ, Garcia CG, Canuto MS, et al. Care workload in critical patients: comparative study NEMS versus NAS. EnfermIntens . 2006;17(2):67-77.^-3333 Stafseth SK, Solms D, Bredal IS. The characterisation of workloads and nursing staff allocation in intensive care units: a descriptive study using the Nursing Activities Score for the first time in Norway. IntensiveCritCareNurs. 2011;27(5):290-4., but more than 95% in Norwegian research³³33 Stafseth SK, Solms D, Bredal IS. The characterisation of workloads and nursing staff allocation in intensive care units: a descriptive study using the Nursing Activities Score for the first time in Norway. IntensiveCritCareNurs. 2011;27(5):290-4.. Among the contributing factors to the different findings betweenthe national and international literature, one must consider the clinical characteristics of the patients, the specific features of the ICU, and the heterogeneity in the interpretation and application of the instrument.

Considering the minimum (61.97%) and maximum (81.2%) meansof NAS found in this review and that 1 NAS point is equivalent to 14.4 minutes²⁷27 Miranda DR, Nap R, de Rijk A, Schaufeli W, Iapichino G. Nursingactivities score. CritCare Med. 2003;31(3):374-82of nursing care, it can be concluded that the patients analyzed in these studies²³23 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...

24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^-2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... required minimal careof approximately 14.9 hours and maximum care of 19.5 hours in a period of 24 hours in intensive care. Comparing these values with those recommended by the resolution of the Federal Council of Nursing (Cofen-293/2004)³⁴34 Conselho Federal de Enfermagem. Resolução n. 293, de 21 de setembro de 2004. Fixa e Estabelece Parâmetros para o Dimensionamento do Quadro de Profissionais de Enfermagem nas Unidades Assistenciais das Instituições de Saúde e Assemelhados [Internet]. Brasília; 2004 [citado 2016 jan. 15]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.cofen.gov.br/resoluo-cofen-2932004_4329.html
http://www.cofen.gov.br/resoluo-cofen-29... which considers, for sizing purposes, 17.9 hours of careprovided by the nursing team to a critical patient, the minimum meanpercentage of NAS is within established parameters. However, for the maximum meanpercentage, there is a possiblework overload among nursing staff.

Instruments TISS or TISS-28, used in three studies¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90^-2020 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. ^,2222 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40. ,were precursors of the NAS. The TISS, created by Cullen et al. in 1974, was the pioneer measurement system of nursing workload. The TISS presupposed that the more serious the patient condition, the greater the number of interventions carried out, regardless of the diagnosis presented³⁵35 Cullen DJ, Civetta JM, Briggs BA, Ferrara LC. Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System: a method for quantitative comparison of patient care. CritCare Med . 1974;2(2):57-60.. This instrument underwent various modifications and simplifications, and the latest version, the TISS-28, analyzes 28 items, divided into seven groups: basic activities, ventilatory support, cardiovascular support, renal support, neurologic support, and metabolicsupport, in addition to specific interventions. The variation of TISS-28 score is 1 to 78 points, each point of the score being equivalent to 10.6 minutes of carefrom a nurse to an ICU patient³⁶36 Miranda DR, de Rijk A, Schaufeli W. Simplified Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System: the TISS-28 itens - results from a multicenter study. CritCare Med . 1996;24(1):64-73..

The practical application of TISS-28 showed weaknesses, since activities related to indirect care to patients, such as administrative and managerial tasks, as well as family support, were not addressed. In order to fill this gap, the same group of researchers proposed the creation of the NAS in 2003²⁷27 Miranda DR, Nap R, de Rijk A, Schaufeli W, Iapichino G. Nursingactivities score. CritCare Med. 2003;31(3):374-82, as described earlier. It should be noted that both the TISS-28 and the NAS instruments were created from multi-center studies, with the participation of ICU staff from different countries and continents.

Omega and PRN were applied in two studies carried out in Turkey by the same group of researchers with the purpose of analyzing the relationship between colonization or infection by MRB and nursing workload²¹21 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70. ^,2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. . The first scale was developed in Canada in 1981³⁷37 Saulnier F, Duhamel A, Descamps JM, de Pouvourville G, Durocher A, Blettery B, et al. Indicateursimplifé de la charge en soinsspécifique à la réanimation: le PRN réa. RéanUrg. 1995;4(5):559-69.and, the second in France in 1986³⁸38 France. Comissiond'Évaluation de la Société de Réanimation de LangueFrançaise. Utilisation de Lindice de gravitésimpliflié et dusystéme OMEGA. Réan Soins IntensMédUrg. 1986;2:219-21.. The use of instruments formeasuring nursing workload developed in a single country can result in restrictions in application and generalization of results, because they reflect the characteristics of the population to whomthese instruments were created.

Regarding the design of the studies, the majority was of the prospective type¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90

20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. ^-2121 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70. ^,2323 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...

24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^-2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... . This type of method is more time consuming and costly, but has the advantage of presenting less bias, because variables such as lack of information can be controlled,allowing for more reliable results³⁹39 Oliveira MAP, Parente RCM. Estudos de coorte e de caso-controle na era da medicina baseada em evidência [editorial]. Bras J Video-Sur [Internet]. 2010 [citado 2016 jan. 3]; 3(3):115-25. Disponívelem: Disponívelem: http://sobracil.org.br/revista/jv030303/bjvs030303_115.pdf
http://sobracil.org.br/revista/jv030303/... . Prospectively collected data may explain the reduced time span of the studies (3 to 8 months) and, consequently, the small size of samples (138 to 3800)¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90

20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. ^-2121 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70. ^,2323 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...

24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^-2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... .Only one prospective study, conducted in an ICU with 11 beds in Slovenia²⁰20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. , examined patients admitted to the intensive care unit during three years, allowing the investigation of a larger number of patients (n = 970). One must take into account that small samples, often from a single ICU, may restrict the application of the results in other populations, because they represent the specific reality of the units evaluated.

Among the AE analyzed, HAIwere the most frequently considered by researchers¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90

20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. ^-2121 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70. ^,2323 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...

24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.

25 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... ^-2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. . Such an interest may be justified by the fact that HAIare factors associated with extending length of hospital stay, generating high levels of health complications and increasing care costs, as well as favoringthe selection and spread of multiresistant organisms⁴⁰40 Souza ES, Belei RA, Carrilho CMDM, Matsuo T, Yamada-Ogatta SF, Andrade G, et al. Mortality and risks related to healthcare-associated infection. TextoContextoEnferm [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2016 Jan 15];24(1): 220-8. Available from: Available from: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/tce/v24n1/0104-0707-tce-24-01-00220.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/tce/v24n1/0104-... , making this event one of the focuses of interest of the PNSP. In this respect, the practice of hand hygiene, created with the aim of preventing and controlling HAI, defined the five major moments in which the hands must be sanitized as well as the technique itself⁴¹41 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Protocolo para a prática de higiene das mãos em serviço de saúde [Internet]. Brasília; 2013 [citado 2016 mar. 02]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File/0SEGURANCA_DO_PACIENTE/protocolo_higiene_das_maos.pdf
http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File... .

Of the five studies that analyzed these AE, most (80.0%) identified that high workload is a risk factor for occurrence of HAIin intensive care²⁰20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. ^-2121 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70. ^,2323 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles... ^,2626 Aycan IO, Celen MK, Ayhan Y, Mehmet AS, Tuba D, Celik Y, et al. Bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in an intensive care unit. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015;65(3):180-85. . Brazilian researchers stressed that HAIhad an influence onthe overload of nursing work, characterized by a NAS score equal to or greater than 51%, because, in the units of study, each nursing professional provides care to two patients per shift²³23 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles... . In this respect, when analyzing the workload of nursing care required by patients, one must consider the number of professionals available to answer it, because this variable directly impacts the quality of care and occurrence of AE⁴²42 Schwab F, Meyer E, Geffers C, Gastmeier P. Understaffing, overcrowding, inappropriate nurse:ventilated patient ratio and nosocomial infections: which parameter is the best reflection of deficits? J Hosp Infect. 2012;80(2):133-9. ^-4343 Hugonnet S, Uçkay I, Pittet D. Staffing level: a determinant of late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia. Crit Care. 2007;11(4):R80. . Only one investigation failed to identify the relationship between nursing workload and HAI¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90. The authors explain this finding, emphasizing that patients in more severe conditions require more care and are more closely monitoring in the ICU and therefore have greater protection against AE¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90.

The overload of nursing work also influenced the occurrence of AE related to medications²²22 Seynaeve S, Verbrugghe W, Claes B, Vandenplas D, Reyntiens D, Jorens PG. Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Am J Crit Care. 2011;20(6):131-40. ^,2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... .Research conducted in the U.S. revealed that in the country's hospitals each patient admitted is susceptible to one medication error per day⁴⁴44 Aspden P, Wolcott J, Bootman JL, Cronenwett LR; Committee on Identifying and Preventing Medication Errors. Preventing medication errors: quality chasm series.Washington: National Academies Press; 2007.. In a Brazilian study performed in an ICU, of the 550 AE identified, 283 were related to medication errors¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90

20 Blatnik J, Lesnicar G. Propagation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus due to the overloading of medical nurses in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect[Internet]. 2006;63(2):162-66. ^-2121 Celen MK, Tamam Y, Hosoglu S, Ayaz C, Geyik MF, Apak I. Multiresistant bacterial colonization due to increased nurse workload in a neurology intensive care unit. Neurosciences. 2006;11(4):265-70. ^,2323 Daud-Gallotti RM, Costa SF, Guimarães T, Padilha KG, Inoue EN, Vasconcelos TN, et al. Nursing workload as a risk factor for healthcare associated infections in ICU: a prospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 Sep 20];7(12):e52342. Available from: Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531467/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...

24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^-2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... . It must be considered that this type of AE in the ICU can be fatal due to the severity of the clinical condition of the patient and the complexity of the drug therapy⁴⁶46 Toffoletto MC, Padilha KG. Consequências dos erros de medicação em unidades de terapia intensivae semi-intensiva. RevEscEnferm USP [Internet] . 2006 [citado 2016 jan. 7];40(2):247-52. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reeusp/v40n2/12.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reeusp/v40n2/12... .

The high incidence of this event became one of the focuses of the Ministry of Health which, together with the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA, in Portuguese), launched a safety protocol on the prescription, use, and administration of medicines, indicating safe practices such as: confirming the patient's ID on the prescription; the use of the full name and date of birth;the signature and stamp of the prescriber; identification of allergies; dosage;titration; infusion speed; and route of administration of the drugs prescribed. In addition, the protocol recommends safe practices in relation to the storage and disposalof medicines⁴⁷47 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Protocolo de segurança na prescrição, uso e administração de medicamentos [Internet]. Brasil; 2013 [citado 2016 Mar 02]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File/0SEGURANCA_DO_PACIENTE/PROTOCOLOSEGURANAMEDICAMENTOSA.pdf
http://www.saude.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File... .

Although studies show that falls in the hospital environment are related to a lack of quality of care and have unforeseen consequences to the patient such as abrasions, contusions, lacerations, and fractures⁴⁸48 Rohde JM, Myers AH, Vlahov D. Variation in risk for falls by clinical department: Implications for prevention. InfectControlHospEpidemiol. 1990; 11 (10):521-4., studies ofthis event in the ICU are limited. In this review, only one investigation addressed the topic¹⁹19 Ferrada S, Urso A, Riffo C, Sánchez H, Villamizar G. Relación entre cargalaboral e incidentesemunaunidad de cuidadosintensivospolivalente. RevChilMedIntensive 2005;20(2):87-90and did not identify the influence of nursing workload on the occurrence of this AE. The scarcity of studies that address this AE in the ICU can be related to a low incidence of falls with injury to the patient in this type of unit, becausecontinuous monitoring is one of the features of intensive care.

Despite investment in devices for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers in intensive care, there is still a high incidence of this event in patients hospitalized in critical care units⁴⁹49 Silva MLN, Caminha RTO, Oliveira SHS, Diniz ERS, Oliveira JL, Neves VSN. Úlcera por pressão em unidade de terapia intensiva: análise da incidência e lesões instaladas. Rev Rene [Internet]. 2013 [citado 2016 jan. 15];15(5):938-44. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.revistarene.ufc.br/revista/index.php/revista/article/view/1341
http://www.revistarene.ufc.br/revista/in...

50 Matos LS, Duarte NLV, Minetto RC. Incidência e prevalência de úlcera por pressão no CTI de um Hospital Público do DF. RevEletrEnf [Internet]. 2010 [citado 2016 jan. 18];12(4):719-26. Disponível em: Disponível em: https://www.fen.ufg.br/fen_revista/v12/n4/pdf/v12n4a18.pdf
https://www.fen.ufg.br/fen_revista/v12/n... ^-5151 Manzano F, Navarro MJ, Róldan D, Moral MA, Leyva I, Guerrero C, et al. Pressure ulcer incidence and risk factors in ventilated intensive care patients. J Crit Care . 2010;25(3):469-76. . In this respect, two Brazilian investigations²⁴24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91.^-2525 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... analyzed the possible influence of nursing workload on this AE and found contradictory results.

Research conducted in ICU of two public hospitals showed that there were 2,317 AEin 399 admissions occurred between May and August 2009, and dermatitis, diaper rash and pressure ulcers were the most frequent (60.45%). In this study, patients with an NAS equal to or higher than 51.0% were about three times more likely to report at least one AE in the ICU than those with an NAS lower than 51%. The authors have reinforced the importance of communication among personnel managers and nursing coordinators regarding detailed analysis and dynamics of the sectors with a focus on people management and sizingof the team²⁵25 Novaretti MCZ, Santos EV, Quitério LM, Daud-Gallotti RM. Sobrecarga de trabalho da Enfermagem e incidentes eeventos adversos em pacientesinternados em UTI. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2014 [citado 2015 set. 20];67(5):692-9. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/0034-7167-reben-67-05-0692.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v67n5/003... . Other research carried out in an ICU in São Paulo, Brazil, showed that the NAS had a significant negative correlation with the Braden scale, which assesses the risk of the patient developing a pressure ulcer⁵²52 Paranhos WY, Santos VLG. Avaliação de risco para úlceras de pressão, utilizando a Escala de Braden em Português. RevEscEnferm USP. 1999;33(n.esp):191-204.. However, the NAS was a protective factorfor the occurrence of pressure ulcers in the sample. According to the authors, results indicate that the care provided is adequate in preventing injury and suggested that other risk factors, such as severity, length of stay in the ICU, and gender should be considered, as these variables contribute to the development of this type of injury²⁴24 Cremasco MF, Wenzel F, Zanei SSV, Whitaker IY. Pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit: the relationship between nursing workload, illness severity and pressure ulcer risk. J ClinNurs. 2013;22(15-16):2183-91..

In most studies, results of this systematic review showed that nursing workload, analyzed by different instruments, had an impact on the occurrence of AE in patients during hospitalization in ICU. According to the literature, AE generate an impact on the quality of care, with increased rates of mortality, longer hospital stays and, consequently, higher welfare costs⁵³53 Ventura CMU, Alves JGB, Meneses JA. Eventos adversos em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal. RevBrasEnferm [Internet] . 2012 [citado 2016 fev. 10];65(1):49-55. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v65n1/07.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v65n1/07.... . In this regard, the importance of analyzing the workload of nursing required by patients is necessary in order to establish a proper relationship between the number of nursing professionals and patients, focusing on the prevention of AE and ensuring patient safety.

Conclusion

The influence of nursing workload required by patients in intensive care was identified as a risk factor for the occurrence of the AE infection, pressure ulcers, and/or medication errors in six of the eight studies examined. In one investigation, workload was identified as a protective factor for pressure ulcer development.

Intensive carenurses must monitor the daily nursing workload required by patients, using the tools available in the literature, such as validated scales in the country, to measure this variable, and be attentive to those occurring in the unit due to work overload, because this can exert a negative influence on patient safety.

The results of this review reinforce the need to conduct multicenter studies, with larger samples and longer follow-up to strengthen the evidence of the relationship between nursing workload and the occurrence of different AE in intensive care.

References

Publication Dates

History