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Staff perceptions on the use of a sedation protocol in the intensive care setting

journal contribution
posted on 2004-11-01, 00:00 authored by R Rose, Tracey BucknallTracey Bucknall
Sedation protocols are increasingly being investigated as a method of achieving improved patient outcomes whilst guiding the decision making of both nursing and medical practitioners. However, only a limited number of studies have investigated the perceptions of staff towards a sedation protocol during its implementation. This study was designed to survey the perceptions of staff regarding the implementation of a sedation protocol in an Australian intensive care unit (ICU). Questionnaires were distributed to all multidisciplinary team members who had used the sedation protocol. The response rate was 50% (n=70). The questionnaire combined the use of visual analogue scales plus a comments section to obtain qualitative data.

The results revealed that staff perceived sedation management to be enhanced with the use of a protocol and therefore should be incorporated into routine clinical practice. Staff perceived that providing clear guidelines that facilitated decision making and assisted beginner practitioners enhanced sedation management. In addition, there was a perceived improvement in the patient outcomes, including a decrease in the frequency of over-sedation resulting in a reduced ICU stay.

Positive perceptions may assist in the introduction of other interventional protocols. Other protocols may target areas where variability in clinical decision making exists, despite research evidence that supports specific therapeutic interventions. Further studies addressing protocol implementation for clinical interventions are warranted in other ICU settings.


History

Journal

Australian critical care

Volume

17

Issue

4

Pagination

151 - 159

Publisher

Confederation of Australian Critical Care Nurses

Location

Sydney, N.S.W.

ISSN

1036-7314

eISSN

1878-1721

Language

eng

Notes

Available online 13 January 2007.

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2004, Published by Elsevier B.V.

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