〈Introductory Note〉International Hospital Outcomes Study

　The Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research launched the International Hospital Outcomes Study (IHOS) in 1997 in response to growing concerns about global nurse shortages and uneven quality of care in hospitals in all countries. The study's purpose is to learn how nursing affects quality of care and how human resource policies in hospitals impact on nursing shortages. If explanations for poor nurse retention and patient outcomes are similar across countries with differently organized and financed health care systems, solutions developed in any country should be applicable to others. Some of the practices associated with better nurse retention and higher quality of hospital care in other countries include flexible work hours for nurses, the availability of part-time employment, a work week of less than 40 hours, reasonable patient to nurse ratios, nurse involvement in decision-making, and good relations between doctors and nurses.

　The IHOS began with 8 interdisciplinary research teams led by nurse researchers in five countries：United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, and New Zealand. Since then the initiative has expanded to include 16 countries. The study in Japan is under the leadership of Professor Masako Kanai-Pak of Tokyo Women's Medical University. Other participating countries in Asia include Thailand and South Korea.