Association Between Nurses Demographics and Hospital Readmissions in Ophthalmology: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Hospital readmissions are a key indicator of healthcare quality, particularly in ophthalmology where complications following surgery or inadequate postoperative care can lead to unplanned returns. Nurses play a critical role in patient education, follow-up care, and complication management. However, the association between nurse demographics and readmission rates in ophthalmology remains underexplored in India. This study aimed to assess the relationship between nurse demographic factors and hospital readmissions in a tertiary eye care setting. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care ophthalmic hospital in South India. A total of 109 nurses were selected through simple random sampling. Inclusion criteria were a minimum of one year of clinical ophthalmology experience. A structured and validated questionnaire, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.82, was used to gather data on age, gender, years of experience, education level, department, and shift type. Logistic regression and chi-square tests were applied to analyze associations between these factors and patient readmission rates. Results: The mean age of nurses was 40.36±11.02 years, and the average experience was 7.85±3.33 years. The majority were female (85.3%) and held GNM or higher degrees. Logistic regression showed slightly higher odds of readmissions for male nurses (OR = 1.63) and those in specific departments (OR = 1.17), while higher education levels showed a protective effect (OR = 0.87). However, none of these associations were statistically significant. Chi-square tests also found no significant associations between categorical variables and readmission rates. Conclusion: While not statistically significant, trends suggest nurse education and departmental assignment may influence ophthalmology readmissions. Larger, multi-center studies are recommended. Improving nursing education and structured follow-up protocols may help reduce readmission rates and enhance care quality.