Validating Impaired Physical Mobility

Abstract

The clinical presence of impaired physical mobility documented for acute‐care patients was studied. The frequency, individual, and group sensitivity levels of the defining characteristics documented as empirical referents for the diagnosis were examined. The frequency of the related factors associated with the diagnosis, patient demographics, length of stay (LOS), discharge destination, and diagnostic‐related groups (DRGs) were also examined. Data were obtained from electronic tapes of patient information. Support was found for impaired mobility, as a high‐frequency diagnosis, in heterogeneous acute‐care patients. No support was found for any major defining characteristics across the heterogeneous sample. A cluster of three defining characteristics: (a) inability to purposefully move within the environment; (b) decreased muscle strength, control, or mass; and (c) imposed restrictions of movement was supported by group sensitivity measures. Major defining characteristics were supported in two DRG subsets. Clusters of defining characteristics varied among four DRGs. The NANDA‐preidentified related factors were associated with the diagnosis. Electronic storage and retrieval of computerized nursing data, including the elements of the Nursing Minimum Data Set (NMDS), was an effective, efficient method for data collection and analysis.