A theory-driven approach to evaluating quality of nursing care.

Purpose: To review the propositions of a theory-driven approach and to discuss its application to evaluating the quality of nursing care.

Organizing Framework: The focus in the theory-driven approach to evaluation is on identifying patient, professional, and setting characteristics that affect the processes of care at micro and meso levels, which in turn contribute to outcome achievement. Implications for examining the interrelationships among characteristics, processes, and outcomes are discussed and illustrated with examples from published research.

Conclusions: Determining how these variables influence each other provides a valid and comprehensive understanding of the contribution of nursing within the health care system.