Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2025
A Protocol to Set Up Needle-Free Connector with Positive Displacement on Central Venous Catheter in Intensive Care Unit
Published on: July 13, 2019
Impact of the I-DECIDED Tool to Improve Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Care in Paediatrics: Interrupted Time-Series
Thiago Lopes Silva1, Gillian Ray-Barruel2,3,4, Amanda Ullman2,4,5
1Postgraduate Program in Nursing, Nursing Department, Health Sciences Centre, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil.
Insights
The I-DECIDED tool improved peripheral intravenous catheter care in children. This assessment tool reduced idle devices, complications, and enhanced patient and family involvement in care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Vascular Access Management
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are crucial in pediatric care.
- Effective PIVC assessment and management are vital for patient safety and outcomes.
- Standardized tools can enhance clinical decision-making in PIVC care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the I-DECIDED assessment and decision tool on PIVC care in a pediatric setting.
- To determine if the I-DECIDED tool improves PIVC assessment, care, and decision-making processes.
- To enhance the quality of care for pediatric patients requiring PIVCs.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental, interrupted time-series study was conducted in a Brazilian public teaching hospital's pediatric inpatient unit.
- Data were collected over six time points (three pre-intervention, three post-intervention) between January and July 2023.
- The I-DECIDED tool guided the evaluation of idle devices, dressings, complications, patient/family awareness, hand hygiene, disinfection, and documentation.
Main Results:
- 585 PIVC observations were completed (289 pre-intervention, 296 post-intervention).
- Post-intervention, there were reductions in idle catheters, substandard dressings, and complications.
- Increased patient/family awareness, improved hand hygiene and disinfection, and enhanced documentation of nursing decisions were reported.
Conclusions:
- Implementation of the I-DECIDED tool significantly enhanced PIVC assessment, care, and decision-making in the pediatric unit.
- The tool offers an opportunity to improve practice standards and patient outcomes in vascular access management.
- Findings support the adoption of the I-DECIDED tool to influence clinical practice and policies for better pediatric PIVC care and safety.
Aim:
To determine whether the I-DECIDED assessment and decision tool enhances peripheral intravenous catheter assessment, care and decision-making in paediatrics.
Design:
Quasi-experimental, interrupted time-series study.
Methods:
An interrupted time-series study was conducted in a paediatric inpatient unit at a public teaching hospital in Brazil. The participants were patients aged less than 15 years old with a peripheral intravenous catheter, and their parents or guardians. Data were collected between January and July 2023, encompassing six time points, three pre-intervention and three post-intervention. Evaluation data were based on the I-DECIDED tool, including idle devices, dressings, complications, patient/family awareness, hand hygiene, disinfection and documentation.
Results:
We conducted 585 peripheral intravenous catheter observations, with 289 in the pre-intervention phase and 296 in the post-intervention phase, inserted in 65 hospitalised children, 30 in the pre-intervention phase and 35 in the post-intervention phase. After the intervention, reductions were observed in the number of idle catheters, substandard dressings and complications. Patients and family members reported an increase in device assessment, hand hygiene and peripheral intravenous catheter disinfection. Additionally, there was an increase in documentation of decision-making performed by nurses and nursing technicians/assistants.
Conclusion:
Implementation of the I-DECIDED assessment and decision tool in a paediatric unit significantly improved the assessment, care and decision-making regarding peripheral intravenous catheters.
Implications For The Profession And/Or Patient Care:
Opportunity to enhance practice standards, elevate the quality of care provided to paediatric patients, contribute to improved patient outcomes, advance evidence-based practice in vascular access management and enhance patient experience through increased involvement in care.
Impact:
To influence clinical practice and healthcare policies aimed at improving peripheral intravenous catheter care and patient safety in paediatric settings.
Patient Or Public Contribution:
No patient or public contribution to the design of this study.
