abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Despite demonstrable risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), thromboprophylaxis continues to be underutilized in hospitalized cancer
patients. Our study evaluated institutional VTE prophylaxis rates after
devising a series of strategic interventions to longitudinally improve
adherence rates over a
period of eight years.
METHODS AND MATERIALS:
Between
2004 and 2012, a series of interventions were implemented to improve
the
thromboprophylaxis rate among patients with solid tumours
hospitalized at our institution using quality improvement methodology.
Interventions included development of guidelines and institutional
policies coupled with educational in-services for physicians, nurses and
pharmacists and engagement of the
Cancer Quality Committee. Thromboprophylaxis rates were monitored to assess response to interventions.
RESULTS:
At
the outset in 2004, 11 of 57 (19.3%) eligible patients received
appropriate pharmacological prophylaxis and formed the baseline of our
analysis. Post-2009 policy implementation and educational sessions,
46.5% of an eligible 185 inpatients were administered
thromboprophylaxis.
Following a two-year grace period to allow for
policy acceptance, three audits were conducted in 2011 for which an
average prophylaxis rate of 62.3% resulted. In 2012, following another
round of educational sessions, a 96.7% rate was achieved and maintained
ten weeks later. Minimal bleeding risk was observed during this eight
year initiative.
CONCLUSION:
A reproducible 96.7%
prophylaxis uptake rate was the result of our perseverance and
persistence in believing that culture change was inevitable through
continuously collaborating with stakeholders at all levels.
0 comments :
Post a Comment
Your comments?
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.