Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

BackgroundLittle is known to what extent attitudes of ICU clinicians are influenced by new insights and recommendations to be more conservative with oxygen therapy. Our aim was to investigate whether implementation of a conservative oxygenation guideline structurally changed self-reported attitudes and actual clinical practice.MethodsAfter the implementation of a conservative oxygen therapy guideline in 3 teaching hospitals in the Netherlands, ICU clinicians were surveyed regarding their attitudes toward oxygen therapy. The survey results were compared with survey results taken before the introduction of the new guideline. Arterial blood gas analysis data and ventilator settings were retrieved from all patients admitted to the participating ICUs in the studied period, and changes after implementing the guideline were assessed.ResultsIn total, 180 ICU clinicians returned the survey. Compared to before implementation of a conservative oxygen guideline, more clinicians chose a preferred [Formula: see text] and an oxygen saturation measured from an arterial sample ([Formula: see text]) limit after implementation of the guideline. In general, clinicians reported a more conservative approach toward management of [Formula: see text] and less frequently increased the [Formula: see text]. In the period after the active implementation of the guideline, 5,840 subjects were admitted to the participating ICUs and 101,869 arterial blood gas analyses were retrieved. Actual practice changed with overall lower oxygenation levels (median [Formula: see text] 77.93 mm Hg, compared to 86.93 mm Hg before implementation) of arterial blood and a decrease of PEEP and [Formula: see text].ConclusionsImplementing a conservative oxygenation guideline was an effective method that changed self-reported attitudes and actual clinical practice and improved adherence to conservative oxygenation targets in a short period of time.

Original publication

DOI

10.4187/respcare.07527

Type

Journal

Respiratory care

Publication Date

10/2020

Volume

65

Pages

1502 - 1510

Addresses

Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. c.c.a.grim@lumc.nl.

Keywords

Humans, Oxygen, Blood Gas Analysis, Oxygen Inhalation Therapy, Attitude, Intensive Care Units, Guideline Adherence