Effectiveness of intravenous infusion protocol in improving quality of care and reducing complications among hospitalized patients.

OBJECTIVE

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured intravenous infusion protocol in improving the quality of care and reducing IV-related complications among hospitalized patients.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Materials and

Methods

A purposive sample of 72 nurses was divided equally into a study group (n = 36), who received the structured IV infusion training, and a control group (n = 36), who followed routine practice. Data were collected using a validated Quality of Care Scale, which included five domains: effectiveness, patient-centered, timeliness, efficiency and equity.

RESULTS

Results

Results showed a marked improvement in the study group's performance after the intervention. The mean of scores for all domains and overall quality of care was low in the pretest (i.e. Effectiveness 0.63, Timeliness 0.64, and Efficiency 0.61, overall, 0.63) while post-test scores increased markedly to 1.42, 1.42, 1.38 and 1.41 respectively. The IV-related complications have decreased in the study group following the intervention (posttest) including phlebitis, infiltration and infection. Although these reductions were not significant, a high significant improvement was observed in pain incidence, which dropped from 25% to 2.8% (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Conclusions

the structured intravenous infusion protocol effectively improved nurses' performance resulting in enhancing patients' quality of life. The significant decline in pain reflects an important enhancement in patient comfort and nursing performance.