TITLE:
The Impact of Health Policy on Nursing Quality and Patient Care Outcomes: A Comprehensive Systematic Review
AUTHORS:
Ali Alalwi, Rachel Mhlanga, Sultan Alharbi, Sultan Alsultan, Ahmad Aleissa, Hussain Bohassan, Ahmed Alqurayn, Azhar Alsaleh, Amnah Algharash, Hussain Alsayafi, Abdulaziz Almutairi, Hajar Al Braih, Fatmah Alrashed, Maryam Alhabib, Aminah Al Shahab, Qassem Alhazoom, Ali Alramadhan, Ali Alkhamis, Habib Alkhalifa, Alya Alashqar, Eman Alali, Ahmed Alalawi, Kaltham Alzarri, Awatef Alsubaie, Ibtisam Abu Budayr
KEYWORDS:
Health Policy, Nursing Quality, Patient Outcomes, Healthcare Reform, Staffing Ratios, Quality Indicators
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.15 No.10,
October
20,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: Nursing practice environments and patient care delivery systems are greatly affected by health policy reforms. Still, the direct connection between particular policy interventions and quantitative nursing quality indicators is not sufficiently described. The current systematic review explored the effect of health policy change on the quality of nursing and patient outcomes in a variety of healthcare environments. Methods: In June 2025, we explored the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL databases to find studies on health policy interventions and their impact on nursing quality indicators and patient outcomes. Articles were screened and data were extracted on policy characteristics, nursing quality measures, and clinical outcomes, done independently by two reviewers. Results: Fourteen studies were included and described the following constructs; staffing levels policies, reporting standards, outcome measures, impact on care outcome, challenges and facilitating factors, and policy design and effectiveness. Four studies were cross-sectional surveys, two used a case study design, five quasi-experimental designs, and three were longitudinal/observational studies. Implication: Interventions Health policy interventions are associated with measurable positive effects on nursing quality indicators and patient care outcomes, with the challenges of implementation and cost factors critically affecting outcomes. Sustainable changes in the quality of care must be based on evidence-based policymaking that takes into account the realities of the nursing workforce and the ability of the institution to respond.