Nursing Staff Perceptions of the Use of SOAPIE in Ecuadorian Hospitals

Abstract

The systematic documentation of nursing care in Ecuadorian hospitals is a significant issue, as continuity of care, clinical traceability, and patient safety depend on complete, timely, and comprehensible reports. The objective of this study was to analyze nursing staff’s perceptions of the use of SOAPIE in Ecuadorian hospitals. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, field-based study was conducted using a structured questionnaire survey administered to nursing staff working in hospitals. The results showed that SOAPIE is perceived as a useful tool for organizing the assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation of care; however, difficulties were also identified related to workload, insufficient training, variability in its application, and limited institutional standardization. These findings suggest that the formal adoption of the record alone does not guarantee high-quality clinical documentation; rather, it requires technical support, supervision, and favorable organizational conditions. It is concluded that SOAPIE strengthens nursing practice when integrated as a clinical tool rather than merely an administrative one; therefore, its consolidation requires ongoing training and institutional follow-up strategies.