ABSTRACT
Introduction: INCATIV is a research program carried out by nurses on 34 hospitals of the Region of Valencia (Spain). This program measures vascular access quality on patients of these hospitals via cross-sections. The objective of the study is to evaluate the influence of COVID-19 pandemic in the registers of the vascular accesses' quality program. Method(s): Quantitative observational, analytical, and retrospective study of two cross-sections. First cross-section was developed before pandemic (C10: 02-2020) and second cross-section during pandemic (C11: 05-2020). Data was obtained from INCATIV's platform. Result(s): Among 34 participant hospitals in INCATIV Program, there was a 100% of participation at C10, collecting 7647 registers of all hospital units included at the program. 4820 vascular accesses were evaluated. Only a 1.22% of them presented signs of phlebitis. 92% of the vascular accesses had the right dressing. At C11, there was a 50% of participation. 3234 registers were collected. Phlebitis rate remains at 1.15%. The use of correct dressing reached at 92% too. Discussion and conclusion: Data indicate a strong decrease in the number of participating hospitals as on the number of registers of this quality program focused on intravenous therapy, confirming the existence of changes in the trend of the registers, in the absence or presence of pandemic moments. On the other hand, it is observed that there are no statistically significant differences related to the quality of the vascular accesses, showing that two main indicators measured, included at INCATIV bundle, such as type of dressing and signs of phlebitis, remain constant despite being measured at two different pandemic moments. Further studies are necessary about how vascular accesses nursing care has changed only in COVID-19 patients.