Table 2

Number (%) of negative QuIS ratings out of staff/patient interactions involving an RN, an HCA, a student nurse or unspecified RN/HCA, by RN and HCA staffing level, along with aORs (95% CI) of a negative QuIS rating in comparison to the reference combination (n=2879)

Number (%), negative QuIS
OR (95% CI)
Patients per HCASplit by RN staffing ratio
<77–8>8
Patients per RN611/373 (3%)
0.16 (0.03 to 0.73)
23/242 (10%)
0.81 (0.18 to 3.70)
48/414 (12%)
1.50 (0.35 to 6.42)
82/1029 (8%)
0.89 (0.31 to 2.55)
>6 to <84/256 (2%)
0.09 (0.02 to 0.50)
70/656 (11%)
1.00
22/236 (9%)
0.87 (0.23 to 3.26)
96/1148 (8%)
1.00
863/418 (15%)
2.12 (0.62 to 7.30)
24/217 (11%)
0.85 (0.22 to 3.29)
11/67 (16%)
1.05 (0.18 to 6.21)
98/702 (14%)
3.16 (1.20 to 8.36)
Split by HCA staffing ratio78/1047 (7%)
0.34 (0.13 to 0.94)
117/1115 (11%)
1.00
81/719 (11%)
1.36 (0.53 to 3.49)
Whole group
276/2879 (10%)
  • *Controlled for patient, interaction and ward characteristics, with observation session and patient included as random effects. Main RN staffing level effect, p=0.021; main HCA staffing level effect, p=0.035.

  • HCA, healthcare assistant; QuIS, Quality of Interaction Schedule; RN, registered nurse.