Using Omaha System data to explore relationships between client outcomes, phenotypes, and targeted home intervention approaches: an exemplar examining practice effectiveness for older women with circulation problems.

BACKGROUND

Improved health among older women remains elusive and may be linked to limited knowledge of and interventions targeted to population subgroups. Use of structured community nurse home visit data exploring relationships between client outcomes, phenotypes, and targeted intervention approaches may reveal new understandings of practice effectiveness.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Omaha System data of 2363 women 65 years and older with circulation problems receiving at least 2 community nurse home visits were accessed. Previously identified phenotypes (Poor circulation; Irregular heart rate; and Limited symptoms), 7 intervention approaches (High-Surveillance; High-Teaching/Guidance/Counseling; Balanced-All; Balanced-Surveillance-Teaching/Guidance/Counseling; Low-Teaching/Guidance/Counseling-Balanced Other; Low-Surveillance-Mostly-Teaching/Guidance/Couseling-TreatmentProcedure-CaseManagement; and Mostly-TreatementProcedure+CaseManagement), and client knowledge, behavior, and status outcomes were used. Client-linked intervention approach counts, proportional use per phenotypes, and associations with client outcome scores were descriptively analyzed. Associations between intervention approach proportional use by phenotype and outcome scores were analyzed using parallel coordinate graph methodology for intervention approach effectiveness.

RESULTS

Percent use of intervention approach differed significantly by phenotype. The 2 most widely employed intervention approaches were characterized by either a high use of surveillance interventions or a balanced use of all intervention categories (surveillance, teaching/guidance/counseling, treatment-procedure, case-management). Mean outcome discharge and change scores significantly differed by intervention approach. Proportionally deployed intervention approach patterns by phenotype were associated with outcome small effects improvement.

DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

The Omaha System taxonomy supported the management and exploration of large multidimensional community nursing data of older women with circulation problems. This study offers a new way to examine intervention effectiveness using phenotype- and targeted intervention approach-informed structured data.