Description

ABSTRACT

Hurlburt S, Orwig D. Registered Nurses in Hyperbaric Medicine: Increasing Patient Compliance with

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2026 First Quarter; 53(1):59-64.

Introduction: A quantitative analysis explored whether adding a full-time registered nurse (RN) and

implementing nurse-led education and follow-up within the hyperbaric department affects patient

treatment compliance and daily attendance rates.

Methods: Data from two seven-month periods of hyperbaric appointments were retrospectively

reviewed. Period One consists of canceled appointments from January to July 2023, when there was no

dedicated nursing role in the department. Period 2 consists of canceled appointments from January to

July 2024, following the addition of a full-time RN to the staffing matrix and the integration of nurse-led

education into the department’s workflow.

Results: A chi-square test of the data showed a significant association (p < 0.001) between the addition

of a full-time RN, nurse-led education, and follow-ups, and the number of canceled hyperbaric

appointments. The estimated risk of cancellation prior to the interventions was 0.11, 11% higher than

the rate after a dedicated nursing role was implemented (p-value < 0.001 and 95% CI for the proportion

difference (0.087-0.13)). The odds of patients canceling hyperbaric appointments are 107% higher in

departments without a dedicated RN role (p < 0.001). The OR=2.07, 95% CI (1.78 – 2.4).

Discussion: After reviewing attendance data across two seven-month periods, it was concluded that

there was an average decrease of 11% in missed appointments following the integration of a full-time RN,

nurse-led education, and patient follow-up. Nursing involvement has been shown to improve compliance

rates among hyperbaric patients.

Keywords: hyperbaric oxygen treatment; nursing process; registered nurse; treatment compliance; nurse-led education

DOI: 10.22462/787