Hongmei Zhang*
Background: An accurate risk assessment is critical for predicting variceal bleeding complications in cirrhosis patients and enhancing nursing care delivery. Herein, we aimed to design a novel risk scoring system for variceal oesophageal and gastric bleeding and develop tailored nursing care strategies based on the risk assessment using the system.
Methods and findings: A risk scoring system was developed according to a retrospective analysis of risk factors for variceal oesophageal and gastric bleeding and clinical characteristics in 825 cirrhosis patients hospitalized in 2013. Risks of bleeding of patients with cirrhosis hospitalized in 2014 were assessed using the scoring system. Risk assessment in 992 cirrhosis patients hospitalized in 2014 identified 396 patients at high risk of bleeding. Tailored predictive nursing care was then delivered to patients in the high-risk group. The tailored nursing care delivery significantly reduced the bleeding rate and the mortality rate of the patients with cirrhosis who were assessed using the novel risk scoring system in 2014, and the rate of patient satisfaction was dramatically elevated as well.
Conclusions: Thus, the novel scoring system and the tailored nursing care delivery may have a great impact on preventing bleeding and decreasing mortality in patients with cirrhosis.
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