Postmark: Cape Town

90-90-90: Know what it means?

By William L. Holzemer, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean and Distinguished Professor, Rutgers University School of Nursing, Newark, New Jersey, USA.

William Holzemer

Coming to the International Nursing Research Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, from the International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2016) in Durban, South Africa, I am reminded of the opportunities for leadership by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) in global health and securing a qualified, competent, and sufficient nursing workforce.

While STTI invites into membership only those with a bachelor’s degree or higher, we are reminded that perhaps more than 80 percent of the world’s nurses are prepared in training schools. Working conditions for nurses in many emerging countries are horrifying—no gloves, no equipment, perhaps one qualified nurse to 50 patients. This tragic reality makes the role of STTI even more important. We must build the knowledge and evidence base for quality patient care to inform how resources are allocated for patient care and nursing. While it is true that people make decisions, without data it is often hard even to be part of the conversation.

Why do those in leadership positions allow these conditions to exist? Without evidence, it is very difficult to build a case for improved resources for nursing so that quality care can be delivered. The international AIDS community likes slogans that succinctly capture desirable outcomes or targets for care. Today the slogan is 90-90-90. This can be interpreted to mean that 90 percent of the public has been tested for HIV. Of those who test positive, 90 percent are in care and receiving medications. And, of those receiving medications, 90 percent have an undectable viral load. That’s the goal.

I wonder if those of us working in other areas of care could come up with and promote a catchy phrase like 90-90-90. For example, 90 percent of people at risk for high blood pressure know their blood pressure, and 90 percent of those who know they have high blood pressure are on treatment. And of those on treatment, 90 percent now have normal blood pressure. What evidence is required in symptom management or self-management research to achieve this 90-90-90 target?

I challenge us to develop clear, promotable outcome goals such as this for our own areas of research and to develop programs of research that allow us to reach these targets, thereby improving quality of life for the individuals, families, and communities we serve.

International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame
See all inductees

Nineteen nurse researchers from six countries were presented with the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame award on Saturday, 23 July 2016.