Clinician views on a device for reducing guidewire retention
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Implementation of a human factors device for preventing guidewire retention after central venous catheterisation: A multi-site mixed methods evaluation
IRAS ID
270093
Contact name
Rebecca Lawton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 18 days
Research summary
Central venous catheters (CVC) are used for several purposes such as administering medications for anaesthesia/surgery. Their insertion is usually via the Seldinger method, where a metal guidewire directs the catheter in situ, before being removed. Sometimes guidewires are accidentally left in place by the present clinician(s), causing significant harm to patients. Accordingly, guidewire retentions are classified as a never events: events that should never happen. From 2018-2019 there were 409 never events in England, 25% involved post-procedure retention of foreign objects, of which 20% were retained guidewires (NHS England and NHS Improvement, 2019).
To reduce guidewire retentions, a team based in Norfolk designed WireSafe; a locked box, containing all equipment necessary for CVC insertion. Importantly, the WireSafe cannot be opened, and thus the insertion cannot be completed unless the guidewire is removed; the guidewire acts as the key to open box. If used as an institution’s standard kit (and not tampered with or forced open), WireSafe therefore must prevent retentions.
Currently used in three hospitals, WireSafe has been recommended/selected by the NHS Innovation Accelerator programme (Academic Health Science Networks) for a nationwide roll-out across the NHS. To aid roll-out, NHS Improvement have requested that the ARC Improvement Science theme, in collaboration with the YH Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, conduct a piece of work to understand the usability and acceptability of Wiresafe, and the barriers and levers to implementation at a local and system level.
This study will address this by recruiting, and introducing WireSafe to, a sample of staff across two hospitals, as well as speak to staff at a hospital that already uses WireSafe. Users (e.g. anaesthetists) or relevant stakeholders (e.g. ODPs) will be asked to discuss use of the WireSafe through audio-recorded interviews and questionnaires.
REC name
N/A
REC reference
N/A