Bakgrund Basala hygienrutiner inklusive handhygien är den mest fundamentala åtgärd för att förhindra smittspridning. WHO har tagit fram riktlinjer för sjukvårdspersonal när och hur handhygien ska utföras. Indirekt kontaktsmitta är den vanligaste smittvägen förmikroorganismer inom sjukhus där främsta mellanled är sjukvårdspersonalens händer. Tidigare forskning har visat att sjuksköterskor brister i följsamhet till handhygien. Vårdrelaterade infektioner och multiresistenta mikroorganismer kan leda till lidande förindividen. I sjuksköterskans ansvarsområde ingår att lindra lidande och främja hälsa. Syfte Syftet var att beskriva vad som påverkar sjuksköterskors följsamhet vad gäller handhygien inom sjukhus. Metod Studien genomfördes med designen icke-systematisk litteraturöversikt. Genom sökningar med specifika söktermer i databaserna CINAHL complete och PubMed identifierades 15 vetenskapliga artiklar som kvalitetsgranskades utifrån Sophiahemmet Högskolakvalitetsgranskningsmall. Genom integrerad dataanalys sammanställdes resultatet i identifierade kategorier. Resultat De fyra identifierade huvudkategorierna i resultatet var Individuella barriärer och motivationer, Barriärer och motivationer på avdelningen, Tillgänglighet av handhygienmaterial och När och vart sjuksköterskan arbetar samt försvårande tillfällen. Dessa huvudkategorier bestod av åtta subkategorier. Identifierade faktorer som påverkadesjuksköterskors följsamhet till handhygien var bland annat arbetsbelastning, stöd frånchefer, motivation att skydda patienten samt hudirritation, torrhet och skador på händerna. Slutsats Resultatet visade på både organisatoriska och individuella faktorer som påverkadesjuksköterskors följsamhet till handhygien. Litteraturöversiktens syfte besvarades genom fyra övergripande huvudkategorier i resultatet vilka alla påverkade sjuksköterskors följsamhet till handhygien. I somliga kategorier framkom barriärer vilket hade negativinverkan på följsamhet, och i andra kategorier motivationer som påverkade följsamheten positivt. Handhygien är grundläggande för sjuksköterskor och resultatet kan bidra tillförbättringsarbete på organisatorisk och individuell nivå. / Background Basic hygiene routines, including hand hygiene, is the most fundamental measure in transmission prevention. The WHO has developed guidelines for when and how healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene. The most common pathway of transmission in hospitals is indirect contact transmission, where healthcare professionals' hands are the foremost intermediaries. Previous research show nurses lack of compliance for handhygiene. Healthcare associated infections and multiresistant microorganisms can lead to suffering for the individual. Ease of suffering and promoting health is the nurse’s responsibility. Aim The aim was to describe what affects nurse's adherence to hand hygiene in hospital settings. Method The method for this study was non-systematic literature review. Through searches with specific keywords in the databases CINAHL complete and PubMed, 15 scientific articles were identified through inclusion- and exclusion criterions. The quality of identified articles was assessed with Sophiahemmet Högskolas quality review template. The result was compiled in identified categories through integrative data analysis. Results The results of this literature review were presented with four main categories: Individual barriers and motivations, Barriers and motivations on the ward, Availability of handhygiene materials lastly When and where the nurse works and aggravating situations. These main categories were based on eight subcategories. The identified factors that affected nurse’s compliance to hand hygiene included workload, support from manager, motivation to protect patients, skin irritation, dryness and sore hands. Conclusions The result showed that both organizational and individual factors affected nurses handhygiene compliance. The purpose of this literature review was answered through four categorizes, all affected nurses hand hygiene compliance. In some categories, barriers that effected the compliance negatively were found. In other categories motivations with positive impact were identified. Hand hygiene is fundamental for nurses and the result can contribute to improvement work on both an organisational and individual level.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第24881号 / 医博第5015号 / 新制||医||1068(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 古川 壽亮, 教授 髙橋 良輔, 教授 阪上 優 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

As instituições de saúde buscam melhorar a qualidade assistencial e segurança do paciente reduzindo agravos como a ocorrência da Úlcera por Pressão (UPP) pela análise dos processos que interferem neste resultado, um indicador de qualidade da enfermagem e serviços de saúde. Estudo objetivou analisar a ocorrência de Úlcera por Pressão em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva e a conformidade do uso de medidas preventivas pelos enfermeiros. Utilizando desenho descritivo exploratório com análise quantitativa, foram analisados dados sociodemográficos e clínicos de pacientes internados em quatro UTIs, incidência e prevalência de UPP, ações para prevenção registradas em prontuário, concordância entre enfermeiros e pesquisadora quanto subescores e escore total da escala de Braden e classificação de risco para UPP. Foram avaliados 346 pacientes, sendo 68 na UTI 1, 84 na UTI 2, 97 na UTI 3 e 97 na UTI 4. Desses, 61,8% eram do sexo masculino, média de idade 56 anos, tempo médio de internação nas UTIs 8,51 dias. A maioria apresentou escores médios na escala entre 13 e 16 na avaliação inicial. Cinqüenta e quatro pacientes (15,6%) foram admitidos na UTI com UPP e 40 (13,69%) pacientes desenvolveram UPP enquanto internados na UTI. Os pacientes que tiveram maior freqüência de UPP eram de alto risco com escores de 10 a 12. Houve predomínio de UPP na região sacral e de estágio II. A maioria desenvolveu-se entre o 2º e o 7º dia de internação e a maior freqüência ocorreu nos pacientes com idade 60 anos. Em 100% dos prontuários não havia registro de enfermagem sobre o risco do paciente para UPP. Havia 39,7% registros corretos de pele íntegra e 85,5% registros corretos da presença de UPP. Quanto ao registro do estadiamento da UPP, a maioria não apresentava conformidade com as recomendações internacionais. Os pacientes admitidos com UPP tiveram maior número de registro de medidas preventivas (57%), com maior freqüência para a hidratação da pele (80,3%) e uso do colchão caixa de ovo (66,9%). Vinte e dois enfermeiros participaram da avaliação da concordância dos dados dos pacientes com a pesquisadora. Tinham tempo médio de profissão de 5 anos e tempo de atuação nas UTIs de 2 anos e oito meses. Houve concordância geral para os escores das subescalas Percepção Sensorial, Mobilidade, Fricção e Cisalhamento. A subescala Umidade, obteve pobre concordância nas UTIs 2 e 4, e não houve concordância na UTI 3. Nas UTIs 3 e 4 não houve concordância para a subescala Atividade e nas UTIs 2 e 4 para a subescala Nutrição. Quanto ao escore total da escala de Braden e classificação em níveis de risco, a concordância ocorreu apenas nas UTIs 1 e 2 (Kappa > 0,5). Os resultados obtidos demonstram a necessidade da avaliação do processo da assistência de enfermagem, de modo a identificar a conformidade das ações de enfermagem e os aspectos que exigem mudanças institucionais, já que podem interferir na ocorrência da UPP visando à melhoria da qualidade e maior segurança para os pacientes internados em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva. / Health institutions seek to improve the quality of care and patient safety by reducing the occurrence of events such as pressure ulcers (PU) by the analysis of the processes that interfere with this result, an quality indicator of nursing and health services. Study aimed to analyze the occurrence of pressure ulcers in Intensive Care Units and the conformity with preventive measures used by nurses. Using an exploratory descriptive design with quantitative methods sociodemographic and clinical data of patients admitted to four ICUs were colected and analyzed, as well as incidence and prevalence of PU, actions for prevention recorded in patient records, agreement among the nurses and researcher related to Braden scale total score and subscores and classification of level of risk for PU development. There were evaluated 346 patients, 68 in ICU 1, 84 in ICU 2, 97 in ICU 3 and 97 in ICU 4. Of the total, 61.8% were male, mean age 56 years, mean lenght of ICU stay 8.51 days. Most ICUs had Braden mean scores in the range of 13 and 16 in the initial evaluation. Fifty-four patients (15,6%) were admitted to the ICU with UPP and 40 (13,69%) patients developed pressure ulcers while hospitalized in ICU. Patients who had higher frequency of UPP were in high risk with a score 10-12. PU were predominantly in the sacral region and stage II. Most ulcers developed between the 2nd and 7th day of hospitalization and occurred more frequently in patients aged 60 years. In 100% of the records nursing records about patient's risk for PU was not documented. There were 39.7% correct records about intact skin and 85.5% correct records about the presence of PU. As for the staging of the PU, the majority of nursing records were not in conformity with international recommendations. Patients admitted with PU had higher registration number of preventive actions (57%), more frequently related to hydration of the skin (80.3%) and use the eggcrate mattress (66.9%). Twenty-two 22 nurses participated in the appraisal of their agreement with the researcher about patient's collected data. Their average time of working in nursing was 5 years and time working in ICU was 2,8 years. There was general agreement for the scores of the subscales Sensory Perception, Mobility, Friction and Shear. Related to subscale humidity, poor agreement was obtained in ICUs 2 and 4, and no agreement was obtained in ICU 3. On ICU 3 and 4 there was no agreement for Activity subscale and in ICUs 2 and 4 for subscale Nutrition. Regarding the total score of the Braden scale and classification of risk levels, the correlation was observed only in ICU 1 and 2 (kappa > 0.5). The results demonstrate the need for evaluation of nursing care process in order to identify the compliance conformity of nursing actions and issues requiring institutional changes that may interfere with detection of the PU to increase quality of care and safety management of patients in intensive care units.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Feb 11, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-94).

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 46-01, page: 0343. Adviser: Nuria Homedes. Includes bibliographical references.

As instituições de saúde buscam melhorar a qualidade assistencial e segurança do paciente reduzindo agravos como a ocorrência da Úlcera por Pressão (UPP) pela análise dos processos que interferem neste resultado, um indicador de qualidade da enfermagem e serviços de saúde. Estudo objetivou analisar a ocorrência de Úlcera por Pressão em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva e a conformidade do uso de medidas preventivas pelos enfermeiros. Utilizando desenho descritivo exploratório com análise quantitativa, foram analisados dados sociodemográficos e clínicos de pacientes internados em quatro UTIs, incidência e prevalência de UPP, ações para prevenção registradas em prontuário, concordância entre enfermeiros e pesquisadora quanto subescores e escore total da escala de Braden e classificação de risco para UPP. Foram avaliados 346 pacientes, sendo 68 na UTI 1, 84 na UTI 2, 97 na UTI 3 e 97 na UTI 4. Desses, 61,8% eram do sexo masculino, média de idade 56 anos, tempo médio de internação nas UTIs 8,51 dias. A maioria apresentou escores médios na escala entre 13 e 16 na avaliação inicial. Cinqüenta e quatro pacientes (15,6%) foram admitidos na UTI com UPP e 40 (13,69%) pacientes desenvolveram UPP enquanto internados na UTI. Os pacientes que tiveram maior freqüência de UPP eram de alto risco com escores de 10 a 12. Houve predomínio de UPP na região sacral e de estágio II. A maioria desenvolveu-se entre o 2º e o 7º dia de internação e a maior freqüência ocorreu nos pacientes com idade 60 anos. Em 100% dos prontuários não havia registro de enfermagem sobre o risco do paciente para UPP. Havia 39,7% registros corretos de pele íntegra e 85,5% registros corretos da presença de UPP. Quanto ao registro do estadiamento da UPP, a maioria não apresentava conformidade com as recomendações internacionais. Os pacientes admitidos com UPP tiveram maior número de registro de medidas preventivas (57%), com maior freqüência para a hidratação da pele (80,3%) e uso do colchão caixa de ovo (66,9%). Vinte e dois enfermeiros participaram da avaliação da concordância dos dados dos pacientes com a pesquisadora. Tinham tempo médio de profissão de 5 anos e tempo de atuação nas UTIs de 2 anos e oito meses. Houve concordância geral para os escores das subescalas Percepção Sensorial, Mobilidade, Fricção e Cisalhamento. A subescala Umidade, obteve pobre concordância nas UTIs 2 e 4, e não houve concordância na UTI 3. Nas UTIs 3 e 4 não houve concordância para a subescala Atividade e nas UTIs 2 e 4 para a subescala Nutrição. Quanto ao escore total da escala de Braden e classificação em níveis de risco, a concordância ocorreu apenas nas UTIs 1 e 2 (Kappa > 0,5). Os resultados obtidos demonstram a necessidade da avaliação do processo da assistência de enfermagem, de modo a identificar a conformidade das ações de enfermagem e os aspectos que exigem mudanças institucionais, já que podem interferir na ocorrência da UPP visando à melhoria da qualidade e maior segurança para os pacientes internados em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva. / Health institutions seek to improve the quality of care and patient safety by reducing the occurrence of events such as pressure ulcers (PU) by the analysis of the processes that interfere with this result, an quality indicator of nursing and health services. Study aimed to analyze the occurrence of pressure ulcers in Intensive Care Units and the conformity with preventive measures used by nurses. Using an exploratory descriptive design with quantitative methods sociodemographic and clinical data of patients admitted to four ICUs were colected and analyzed, as well as incidence and prevalence of PU, actions for prevention recorded in patient records, agreement among the nurses and researcher related to Braden scale total score and subscores and classification of level of risk for PU development. There were evaluated 346 patients, 68 in ICU 1, 84 in ICU 2, 97 in ICU 3 and 97 in ICU 4. Of the total, 61.8% were male, mean age 56 years, mean lenght of ICU stay 8.51 days. Most ICUs had Braden mean scores in the range of 13 and 16 in the initial evaluation. Fifty-four patients (15,6%) were admitted to the ICU with UPP and 40 (13,69%) patients developed pressure ulcers while hospitalized in ICU. Patients who had higher frequency of UPP were in high risk with a score 10-12. PU were predominantly in the sacral region and stage II. Most ulcers developed between the 2nd and 7th day of hospitalization and occurred more frequently in patients aged 60 years. In 100% of the records nursing records about patient's risk for PU was not documented. There were 39.7% correct records about intact skin and 85.5% correct records about the presence of PU. As for the staging of the PU, the majority of nursing records were not in conformity with international recommendations. Patients admitted with PU had higher registration number of preventive actions (57%), more frequently related to hydration of the skin (80.3%) and use the eggcrate mattress (66.9%). Twenty-two 22 nurses participated in the appraisal of their agreement with the researcher about patient's collected data. Their average time of working in nursing was 5 years and time working in ICU was 2,8 years. There was general agreement for the scores of the subscales Sensory Perception, Mobility, Friction and Shear. Related to subscale humidity, poor agreement was obtained in ICUs 2 and 4, and no agreement was obtained in ICU 3. On ICU 3 and 4 there was no agreement for Activity subscale and in ICUs 2 and 4 for subscale Nutrition. Regarding the total score of the Braden scale and classification of risk levels, the correlation was observed only in ICU 1 and 2 (kappa > 0.5). The results demonstrate the need for evaluation of nursing care process in order to identify the compliance conformity of nursing actions and issues requiring institutional changes that may interfere with detection of the PU to increase quality of care and safety management of patients in intensive care units.

En el Perú, la elaboración de guías de práctica clínica tiene exigencia normativa desde el año 2005 (NT N° 027-MINSA/DGSP-V.01); sin embargo, su desarrollo ha ténido poco énfasis en la calidad metodológica de las mismas, prefiriendo el tipo narrativo. Desde hace varios años se realizan esfuerzos dispersos para mejorar la calidad metodológica, principalmente que su elaboaración esté basada en evidencias científicas. Actualmente se cuenta con una nueva normativa (NT N° 302-2015/MINSA) que pone mayor enfasis en esta exigencia y algunas instituciones ya trabajan para adecuarse a estandares internacionales y poder generar impactos positivos en nuestro sistema de salud a través del adecuado desarrollo de guias de practica clínica en nuestro pais. / There has been a regulation for generating clinical practice guidelines in Peru since 2005 (NT N° 027-MINSA/DGSP-V.01), which was issued by the Ministry of Health. However, its use has had little emphasis in the methodological quality of such guidelines, and a narrative style was preferred. Some isolated efforts aiming to improve the quality of such guidelines have taken place, especially with respect to have such documents produced based on evidence. Now we have a new regulation (NT N° 302-2015/MINSA), which places more emphasis in this requirement; and some institutions are already working in such way, in order to comply with international standards and be able to generate a positive impact in our healthcare system through the adequate development of clinical practice guidelines in our country.

BACKGROUND: More than 70% of the global premature mortality from NCDs occurs in low- and middle-income countries. These countries, including Nigeria, also have varied but mostly limited health system capacity to respond to cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. Substantial gaps exist in our understanding of the subnational capacity to respond to these conditions in Nigeria. This encompasses a variety of issues, perhaps most importantly the readiness of facilities to provide care and the quality of care provided to patients with these conditions. As the Lagos State government accelerates the rollout of its mandatory state-based health insurance scheme, the number of patients with diabetes and hypertension receiving care will increase, poor management of which can threaten the scheme's financial sustainability. This mixed-methods study was conducted as part of the baseline activities of an impact evaluation of the health insurance program and was designed to answer three questions: 1) What is the capacity and readiness of health facilities in Lagos State to provide hypertension (HTN) and diabetes (DM) care? 2) What is the level of the quality of care provided to patients with HTN and DM, and how does it vary by patient and facility characteristics? 3) What are the barriers to providing diabetes and hypertension care from providers' perspectives? METHODS: The data for this study were collected using three approaches. We conducted a facility survey among public and private facilities (n=84) in Lagos State to assess facility readiness and the functionality of systems required for diabetes and hypertension care. Linear mixed-effects models were used to determine the level and factors associated with the process quality of care provided to patients in 2019 by analyzing clinical data collected via medical chart abstraction. Finally, in-depth interviews were conducted with health care providers (n=20) to explore their practices and the barriers faced in providing care to patients with diabetes and hypertension. RESULTS: The essential inputs needed for diabetes and hypertension care were mostly available; the mean HTN readiness score was 66%, and the DM readiness score was 68.9%. At the same time, systems to facilitate longitudinal care were mostly lacking; 35% had a mechanism for tracking patients who missed appointments, and 52% assigned unique patient identification numbers to NCD patients. Based on the clinical records, the quality of care provided to patients was very low; overall, patients with diabetes and hypertension received less than 30% of recommended care processes. Less than a third of the patients had their blood pressure or blood glucose controlled. There was substantial variation in the mean quality score by patient and across care processes, with lifestyle modification counseling (LSM) counseling the least likely to be delivered. According to providers, the inability to pay for laboratory tests and medications and non-compliance with medications and clinic visits are key barriers to delivery of high-quality services. Barriers at the organizational level included poorly functioning two-way referrals, non-availability of LSM counseling materials, and lack of recall and follow-up systems. CONCLUSION: While the service readiness scores for diabetes and hypertension are moderately high among these health facilities, there are critical deficits in their ability to provide long-term, integrated care of high quality to patients. Addressing these deficits will require the implementation of a comprehensive model of care co-created by providers, health system managers, patients, and insurers. Lessons can be drawn from the implementation of other chronic disease programs to kick start this process. / 2024-08-30T00:00:00Z

För att kunna ge vård av säker och god kvalitet krävs att sjuksköterskor har kunskap inom många områden, eftersom de har ansvar för såväl bedömning, planering och genomförande, som utvärdering och dokumentation av omvårdnadsarbetet. Ett av flera ansvarsområden för sjuksköterskor i deras dagliga arbete är beslutsfattande om insättning och skötsel av perifera venkatetrar (PVK). En PVK är en tunn plastkateter som sätts in i ett blodkärl via en kanyl. PVK används vid intravenös behandling med till exempel antibiotika och andra läkemedel, blodkomponenter eller näringslösningar. En stor andel av alla patienter inom hälsooch sjukvård kommer någon gång i kontakt med en PVK och riskerar då också att utsättas för komplikationer. En vanlig komplikation i samband med PVK är tromboflebit. Tromboflebit förekommer i olika svårighetsgrader och innebär att inflammation har uppstått i blodkärlet i kombination med samtidig blodpropp. Symtom som kan uppstå är rodnad, svullnad, smärta, hårdhet i kärlet och varig infektion. Det finns kliniska riktlinjer om PVK framtagna både på nationell och på lokal nivå som fungerar som ett stöd i beslutsfattandet. Tidigare forskning har visat att kliniskt verksamma ibland inte följer riktlinjer. Anledningar till att inte riktlinjer följs kan till exempel vara att de kliniskt verksamma inte håller med om det som rekommenderas, inte känner till rekommendationerna, inte har tid eller möjlighet att påverka de beslut som fattas eller att det finns individuella faktorer att ta hänsyn till för den enskilda patienten. 52 Frågan kan ställas om sjuksköterskor använder sig av kliniska riktlinjer i sitt dagliga arbete eller om det är andra faktorer och aspekter som har betydelse och påverkar beslutsfattandet. Denna licentiatavhandling syftade till att beskriva sjuksköterskors kliniska beslutsfattande genom att fokusera på deras följsamhet till riktlinjer och beslutsresonemang om PVK. Två studier har genomförts inom ramen för denna licentiatavhandling. Studie I undersökte i vilken utsträckning sjuksköterskor följer nationella och lokala riktlinjer om PVK. PVKns placering och storlek, tiden som PVKn varit placerad i blodkärlet, dokumentation vid PVKns förband samt om det fanns tecken på tromboflebit vid PVKn var variabler som undersöktes i relation till de rekommendationer som fanns. Utifrån två protokoll samlades strukturerad data in och analyserades. Totalt 343 PVK ingick i analysen. I studie II undersöktes de tecken och påverkande faktorer som har betydelse när sjuksköterskor fattar beslut om skötsel av PVK. I studien observerades 43 sjuksköterskor i sitt dagliga arbete. Sjuksköterskorna intervjuades också dels om PVK-besluten som de fattade under observationerna, dels om deras beslutsfattande om PVK-skötsel i allmänhet. Studie I visade att sjuksköterskor delvis följer riktlinjer. Det fanns skillnader mellan de vårdavdelningar som hade nationella riktlinjer och de som hade lokala riktlinjer, i hur de olika avdelningarna valde placering, storlek och dokumenterade vid PVKns förband. PVKn hade suttit längre tid än rekommenderat i varierande utsträckning. Andelen tromboflebiter var låg (7.0%) och tromboflebiterna var milda. Det tyder på att sjuksköterskor är noga med att ta bort PVK vid tecken på komplikationer. Studie II visade att sjuksköterskor i sitt kliniska resonemang om PVK-skötsel tar hänsyn till den individuella patientsituationen, sjuksköterskans arbetssituation och erfarenhet av PVK-skötsel. Det framkom även att sjuksköterskor balanserar mellan att undvika eller minimera obehag och smärta för patienten och samtidigt förebygga komplikationer från PVKn. Resultaten från denna licentiatavhandling kan få betydelse för undervisning av sjuksköterskestudenter och även när kliniska riktlinjer ska införas på vårdavdelningar. / Every working shift nurses make several decisions, including decisions about management of peripheral venous catheters (PVC). Peripheral catheterisation is a common procedure, which affects numerous patients in health care today. PVC are for example used for intravenous infusions with antibiotics, nutrients and blood components. Having PVC in situ may lead to complications such as thrombophlebitis. Clinical guidelines have been developed within the area to assist nurses in their decision-making, but clinical guidelines are not always adhered to. There are several reasons why clinicians do not always adhere to clinical guidelines, although such adherence may lead to fewer complications. Choices for decisions regarding PVC management have been investigated in previous studies, but not in a naturalistic setting. The overall aim of this licentiate thesis was to describe nurses’ clinical decision-making through focusing on their adherence to clinical guidelines and their clinical reasoning concerning decisions of PVC. Two studies have been conducted and data were collected during a six-month period, from December 2004 to June 2005. Study I investigated nurses’ adherence to national and local PVC guidelines by focusing on time in situ, site, size and documentation at the dressing. The thrombophlebitis frequency associated with PVC in situ was also investigated. Structured observations through two protocols were carried out and data about 343 PVC were analysed. Study II investigated nurses’ clinical reasoning regarding PVC management and cues and factors of importance in the decision10 making process were analysed. Nurses were observed in their daily work with focus on PVC management. They were interviewed both about the PVC decisions made in the observed situations and about factors influencing their reasoning regarding PVC management in general. The observations facilitated the interviews. Transcribed interview texts were analysed with content analysis. The results in study I showed that thrombophlebitis frequency was 7.0% and the nurses seemed to replace or remove PVC before any severe complications arose in accordance with clinical guidelines. Nurses partly adhered to national and local guidelines concerning site, size, documentation at the dressing and time in situ. Differences in guideline adherence were observed for wards with local or national guidelines, as well as for wards with different specialities. The results indicate that local guidelines may have an impact on guideline adherence but these results need further exploration. Analysis of interview texts in study II resulted in a category system with three main categories describing cues and factors of importance in the nurses’ clinical reasoning about PVC: the individual patient situation, the nurse’s work situation, and experience of PVC management. An overall theme was also revealed in the interview texts and the nurses balance in their clinical reasoning between avoiding or minimizing discomfort and pain for the patient and preventing complications from the PVC. The results from this licentiate thesis have implications for the education of nurses as well as during implementation of clinical guidelines. / <p>Note: The papers are not included in the fulltext online.</p><p>Paper I in thesis as accepted manuscript, paper II as manuscript.</p><p></p>