Trends in Research Using a rating tool for “Nursing Care Needs" in Japanese acute care settings: A Scoping Review Protocol

Objective: This scoping review aims to clarify how data of the "Rating Scale for Patient Severity and Medical/Nursing Needs" (hereafter referred to as "Nursing Care Needs") has been utilized in research since 2018 and to evaluate its contribution to the generation of healthcare evidence in Japanese acute care settings. Inclusion Criteria: This review will consider studies involving patients treated in Japanese acute care settings, specifically within general wards, high-care units, and intensive care units since 2018. The concept focuses on the Nursing Care Needs. Eligible sources include quantitative research of any study design published in English or Japanese. Methods: A three-step search strategy will be employed. First, an initial search of Ichushi-Web, MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, and Web of Science Core Collection will be conducted to identify key terms and index words. Second, a full search strategy using identified keywords will be adapted for each database. Third, citation searching via Web of Science Core Collection will be performed for studies in international journals to identify relevant literature, as "Nursing Care Needs" lacks a standardized international term. The search will include studies in English and Japanese. Two independent reviewers will screen titles, abstracts, and full texts against the inclusion criteria. Disagreements will be resolved through discussion or with a third reviewer. Data extraction will encompass study characteristics, domains included in the analysis, statistical methodologies, and findings derived from data of Nursing Care Needs. Extracted data will be synthesized through frequency and percentage summaries and presented in tabular and narrative formats.