Barriers to nurses' adherence to central venous catheter guidelines

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Quality

Background:

• Evidence-based central venous catheter (CVC) care practices are critical for preventing nosocomial infections.
• Non-adherence to CVC care protocols remains a significant challenge in clinical settings.
• Previous research often focused on system improvements rather than direct nurse perceptions of adherence barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nurses' perceived barriers to adhering to standard central venous catheter (CVC) care practices.
• To understand the factors influencing nurses' ability to consistently follow CVC care guidelines.
• To identify potential areas for intervention to improve CVC care adherence.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive phenomenological approach was employed.
• Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with 10 participating nurses.
• Colaizzi's method was utilized for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Major themes identified included cognitive factors (thinking processes) and contextual factors (patient condition, materials, organizational processes, and culture).
• Three interconnected subthemes were also identified, providing deeper insights into the barriers.
• Nurses' perceptions highlight both individual and systemic influences on practice adherence.

Conclusions:

• Barriers to CVC care adherence can lead to medical errors and compromise the quality of patient care.
• Interventions should focus on enhancing resource availability and simplifying care processes.
• Addressing cognitive and contextual barriers is essential for supporting nurses in delivering optimal CVC care.