Measuring the dose of nursing intervention.

PURPOSE. To increase awareness of the many issues involved in measuring the dose of nursing intervention in nursing interventions effectiveness research. METHODS. Identify critical issues in measurement of the dose of nursing intervention and discuss decisions regarding dosage measurement made in a study of the effectiveness of nursing interventions. FINDINGS. A single method can be applied to resolve two critical issues in intervention dosage measurement. CONCLUSIONS. Those conducting nursing interventions effectiveness research must think explicitly about how intervention dosage will be measured and reported so that dosage can be replicated in research and practice. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Measuring and reporting the dose of nursing intervention in research is essential to the development of an evidence base adequate to support practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]