Impact of a training program on adherence to recommendations for care of venous lines in internal medicine departments in Spain

A high percentage of venous lines (VLs) are placed in non-ICU patients, particularly those treated in the internal medicine department (IMD). We assessed adherence to VL care after a training program aimed at nurses and clinicians attending patients admitted to Spanish IMDs. We performed a multicenter prospective observational point prevalence study in 14 Spanish IMDs in 2013 and 2016. We included all adult patients (> 18 years) admitted to IMDs on the study day and reviewed nursing records for patients with VL in place before and after a 1-year training program during 2015. Answers from an interview with head nurses of the IMDs regarding commonly used practices in the daily management of VLs were also compared. A total of 638 and 693 patients were seen during each period, respectively, and 530 and 598 patients had ≥ 1 VL implanted (83.1 vs. 86.3%). Catheters were considered unnecessary in 12.8 and 15.0% of cases (p = 0.28). Daily recording of the need for catheter use increased from 43.8 to 71.8% (p < 0.001). Furthermore, daily monitoring of the insertion site remained very frequent (94.4 vs. 92.2%; p = 0.16). The date of insertion was recorded in 86.3 and 85.5% of cases (p = 0.73), and no combination of closed connectors with open caps increased from 74.8 to 90.3% (p < 0.001). Overall, head nurses’ knowledge improved in 4 out of 14 recommendations assessed (28.6%). A simple and easy program for training on management of VLs in Spanish IMDs was associated with improved quality of care.