Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-25-2020
JOURNAL
International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
VOLUME NUMBER
15
PAGE NUMBERS
2275—2287
ISSN
1178-2005
Embargo Period
10-19-2020
ANZSRC / FoR Code
111003 Clinical Nursing: Secondary (Acute Care)| 111716 Preventive Medicine| 110203 Respiratory Diseases
Avondale Research Centre
Lifestyle and Health Research Centre
Reportable Items (HERDC/ERA)
C1
Abstract
Background: Supplemental oxygen is commonly administered to patients in acute care. It may cause harm when used inappropriately. Guidelines recommend prescription of acute oxygen, yet adherence is poor. We aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to practicing in accordance with the evidence-based Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) oxygen guideline, and to determine the beliefs and attitudes relating to acute oxygen therapy. Methods: A national cross-sectional survey was conducted. The survey consisted of 3 sections: (1) introduction and participant characteristics; (2) opinion/beliefs, knowledge and actions about oxygen therapy and other drugs; and (3) barriers and facilitators to use of the TSANZ guideline. Convenience sampling was employed. A paper-based survey was distributed at the TSANZ Annual Scientific Meeting. An online survey was emailed to the TSANZ membership and to John Hunter Hospital’s clinical staff. Results: Responses were received from 133 clinicians: 52.6% nurses, 30.1% doctors, and 17.3% other clinicians. Over a third (37.7%) were unaware/unsure of the oxygen guideline’s existence. Most (79.8%) believe that oxygen is a drug and should be treated as one. Most (92.4%) stated they only administered it based on clinical need. For four hypothetical cases, there was only one where the majority of participants identified the optimal oxygen saturation. A number of barriers and facilitators were identified when asked about practicing in accordance with the TSANZ guideline. Lack of oxygen equipment, getting doctors to prescribe oxygen and oxygen being treated differently to other drugs were seen as barriers. The guideline itself and multiple clinician characteristics were considered facilitators. Conclusion: There is discordance between clinicians’ beliefs and actions regarding the administration of oxygen therapy and knowledge gaps about optimal oxygen therapy in acute care. Identified barriers and facilitators should be considered when developing evidence-based guidelines to improve dissemination and knowledge exchange.
Link to publisher version (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S263696
Peer Review
Before publication
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License
Recommended Citation
Cousins, J. L., Wark, P., Hiles, S. A., & McDonald, V. M. (2020). Understanding Clinicians’ perceived barriers and facilitators to optimal use of Acute Oxygen Therapy in adults. International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 15, 2275-2287. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S263696
Comments
Used by permission: the author(s).
This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited.