Influence of oncology nurses' decision-making and personality traits on missed nursing care and related factors: A correlational study

PURPOSE: To identify Missed Nursing Care (MNC) and related factors, as well as analyze the influence of nurses' decision-making and personality traits on MNC in two Portuguese hospitals dedicated to cancer care. METHODS: A cross-sectional, multicentric, descriptive-correlational study was conducted using a convenience sample of 298 nurses working in two hospitals dedicated to cancer care. Data were collected in the first semester of 2023 using a questionnaire that included sociodemographic and professional questions and the Portuguese versions of the MISSCARE Survey, the Nursing Decision-Making Instrument (NDMI-PT), and the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI-P). RESULTS: Nurses missed care occasionally, namely in the dimensions related to Patient empowerment/autonomy care and Efficacy of feeding and medication. Staffing, Patient volume and acuity, and Management and organization were moderate to significant reasons for MNC. The flexible decision-making style was predominant (81.5%). The most prevalent personality traits were Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Openness to experience. Significant correlations were found between the four stages of the decision-making process and the personality traits and several dimensions of MNC. Data collection to assess a patient's condition was negatively correlated with Team communication and Material resources. Similarly, the Emotional stability trait was negatively correlated with Team communication and Patient volume and acuity. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified MNC and factors that can influence the quality of care. It is crucial to promote nurses' training and specialization within healthcare teams, with a particular focus on enhancing some of their personality traits to make them more effective and efficient therapeutic agents.