The Development of the Japanese Psychiatric Nursing Assessment Classification System (PsyNACS©)

The purpose of this study was to develop the Japanese Psychiatric Nursing Assessment Classification System (PsyNACS)©. This study used the on-line survey method from February to April 2015. There were 644 respondents comprised of professional nurses with minimum qualification of 3 years’ experience being in a psychiatric unit of a stand-alone 200-bed or more Psychiatric Hospital in Japan. Assessment items were derived from 211 specific items selected from nursing textbooks, excluding the North-American-Nursing-Diagnosis-Association (NANDA). The questionnaire contained Cover Letter, Demographic Data Sheet, and the PsyNACS© questionnaire. There were 644 questionnaires accessed but only 435 were completed and valid. Item levels of importance were evaluated: 1) Unnecessary, 2) Not very important, 3) Important and 4) Very important. Data analysis used descriptive and multivariate statistics. Factor analysis (principal factor analysis, varimax rotation), the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) and the Bartlett’s test of Sphericity assessed the adaptive validity of the factor analysis. Factor loadings were set at 0.4 or more for the configuration of items. Internal consistency and reliability were established using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Mean factor points were calculated, including standard deviation, range, and confidence interval at 95%. Statistical significance was at 0.05 level. Nine Patient Assessment Data (PAD) with 2 to 5 Cluster Assessment Data (CAD) each were categorized. Thirty one CADs comprised the Patient Assessment Data: (PAD1) Psychological symptom and stress, (PAD2) Information about treatment, (PAD3) Function of eating and balance of water, (PAD4) Life and value, (PAD5) Vital signs and health assessment, (PAD6) Self-care, (PAD7) Social support, (PAD8) Activity, sleeping and mobility capability, and (PAD9) Sexual function and sexual behavior. The PsyNACS© is a classification of items assessing health care needs within the Japanese psychiatric nursing care environment, and also can be used in various psychiatric patient care situations in all psychiatric units.