ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Prompt recognition and management are critical to improve outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a survey among nurses and physicians of all adult departments of the Lausanne University Hospital (LUH) and paramedics transporting patients to our hospital. Measured outcomes included professionals' demographics (age, profession, seniority, unit of activity), quantification of prior sepsis education, self-evaluation, and knowledge of sepsis epidemiology, definition, recognition, and management. Correlation between surveyed personnel and sepsis perceptions and knowledge were assessed with univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: Between January and October 2020, we contacted 1'216 of the 4'417 professionals (27.5%) of the LUH, of whom 1'116 (91.8%) completed the survey, including 619 of 2'463 (25.1%) nurses, 348 of 1'664 (20.9%) physicians and 149 of 290 (51.4%) paramedics. While 98.5% of the participants were familiar with the word "sepsis" (97.4% of nurses, 100% of physicians and 99.3% of paramedics), only 13% of them (physicians: 28.4%, nurses: 5.9%, paramedics: 6.8%) correctly identified the Sepsis-3 consensus definition. Similarly, only 48% and 49.3% of the physicians and 10.1% an 11.9% of the nurses knew that SOFA was a sepsis defining score and that the qSOFA score was a predictor of increased mortality, respectively. Furthermore, 15.8% of the physicians and 1.0% of the nurses knew the three components of the qSOFA score. For patients with suspected sepsis, 96.1%, 91.6% and 75.8% of physicians respectively chose blood cultures, broad-spectrum antibiotics and fluid resuscitation as therapeutic interventions to be initiated within 1 (76.4%) to 3 (18.2%) hours. For nurses and physicians, recent training correlated with knowledge of SOFA score (ORs [95%CI]: 3.956 [2.018-7.752] and 2.617 [1.527-4.485]) and qSOFA (ORs [95%CI]: 5.804 [2.653-9.742] and 2.291 [1.342-3.910]) scores purposes. Furthermore, recent training also correlated with adequate sepsis definition (ORs [95%CI]: 1.839 [1.026-3.295]) and the components of qSOFA (ORs [95%CI]: 2.388 [1.110-5.136]) in physicians. CONCLUSIONS: This sepsis survey conducted among physicians, nurses and paramedics of a tertiary Swiss medical center identified a deficit of sepsis awareness and knowledge reflecting a lack of sepsis-specific continuing education requiring immediate corrective measures.
Subject(s)
Nurses , Physicians , Sepsis , Adult , Humans , Switzerland/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Paramedics , Tertiary Care Centers , Hospital Mortality , Sepsis/diagnosis , Sepsis/epidemiology , Sepsis/therapy , Organ Dysfunction Scores , Retrospective Studies , Prognosis , Intensive Care UnitsABSTRACT
Studies show high variability in the quality of care and a significant incidence of adverse events. The care management direction of a university hospital center (CHU) has developed a care performance measuring system. The aim of the article is to present the different development stages of this system. The authors used May's Normalization Process Theory, which focuses on factors influencing the engagement of individuals, groups, and organizations in sustaining change.The CHU's approach led to the following results : 1) reaching a consensus on performance concept and identifying five areas of performance, 2) selection of 12 priority indicators to assess performance, 3) measures development, 4) setting up the method of collecting information 5) creation of a mechanism for analyzing the results by care teams and 6) dissemination of results via dashboards.The approach focuses on strategies for mobilizing managers and health care teams. Specific recommendations relate to the need to provide expert resources, review clinical guidance and ensure accountability of health care providers.
Subject(s)
Hospitals, University/organization & administration , Quality Assurance, Health Care/organization & administration , Consensus , Humans , SwitzerlandABSTRACT
Chronic wounds are a major health problem, which nurses are dealing with daily. However, weak agreement exists with the dressing technique on chronic wounds. The practices described are often imprecise and even controversial. At least four procedures are depicted for this practice in Switzerland. This search of evidence is conduct on the dressing technique on chronic wounds in hospital care units. The debate on this issue is depicted and the terms of sterile and non sterile bandage are defined. The scientific and professional literature analyzed to determine the level of proof of the existing data does not state that one of both techniques--sterile versus non sterile--is more adequate than the other, for the chronic wounds management in hospital environment. The principles formulated on the basis of this literature review are therefore based on the experts' opinion.
