Dutch Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses' Perceptions of Pulse Oximeter Saturation Target Limits for Preterm Infants.

PURPOSE: To conduct a national survey to assess practice, knowledge, barriers, and perceptions regarding oxygen saturation (SpO2) target limits among Dutch neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses. DESIGN AND METHODS: Cross-sectional, web-based survey among 667 nurses from 9 level 3 Dutch NICUs. Part of the questions were based on a clinical scenario (28-weeks preterm infant, treated with CPAP, FiO2 0.4). RESULTS: 328 (53.6%) nurses responded to the survey. Of these, 281 (85.7%) reported to know the local policy of SpO2 target limits, and 261 (79.6%) and 244 (74.4%) rightly identified the lower and upper limit, respectively. Six NICUs recently increased their lower SpO2 limit and for 62.0% of their nurses this led to a significant alarm increase. For the majority of the respondents, the baby from the clinical scenario would spend <10% of the time outside the lower or upper SpO2 limits. Automated oxygen control systems were considered a good idea by 59.2% of the respondents, but 53.9% considered allowing parents to participate in FiO2 titration a bad or very bad idea. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the respondents identified their unit's policy-specified SpO2 target limits and reported that the increase in SpO2 target limits may have led to more alarms. Titration of FiO2 is a part of care that respondents were reluctant to share with parents. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: A potential increase in the number of SpO2 alarms may lead to alarm fatigue. Although family-centered care philosophy is widely accepted across Dutch NICUs, there are still barriers to overcome.

Compliance in oxygen saturation targeting in preterm infants: a systematic review.

During oxygen therapy in preterm infants, targeting oxygen saturation is important for avoiding hypoxaemia and hyperoxaemia, but this can be very difficult and challenging for neonatal nurses. We systematically reviewed the qualitative and quantitative studies investigating the compliance in targeting oxygen saturation in preterm infants and factors that influence this compliance. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, CINAHL and ScienceDirect from 2000 to January 2015. Sixteen studies were selected, which involved a total of 2935 nurses and 574 infants. The studies varied in methodology, and we have therefore used a narrative account to describe the data. The main finding is that there is a low compliance in oxygen targeting; the upper alarm limits are inappropriately set, and maintaining the saturation (SpO2) below the upper limit presented particular difficulties. Although there is little data available, the studies indicate that training, titration protocols and decreasing workload could improve awareness and compliance. Automated oxygen regulations have been shown to increase the time that SpO2 is within the target range. CONCLUSION: The compliance in targeting oxygen during oxygen therapy in preterm infants is low, especially in maintaining the SpO2 below the upper limit. WHAT IS KNOWN: • The use of oxygen in preterm infants is vital, but the optimal strategyremains controversial. • Targeting SpO2 during oxygen therapy in preterm infants has beenshown to reduce mortality and morbidity. WHAT IS NEW: • Review of the literature showed that the compliance in targeting SpO2and alarm settings is low. • Creating awareness of risks of oxygen therapy and benefits in targeting,decreasing nurse/patient ratio and automated oxygen therapy couldincrease compliance.

Use, utility and methods of telehealth for patients with COPD in England and Wales: a healthcare provider survey.

Introduction: Although the effectiveness of domiciliary monitoring (telehealth) to improve outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is controversial, it is being used in the National Health Service (NHS). Aim: To explore the use of teleheath for COPD across England and Wales, to assess the perceptions of clinicians employing telehealth in COPD and to summarise the techniques that have been used by healthcare providers to personalise alarm limits for patients with COPD enrolled in telehealth programmes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey consisting of 14 questions was sent to 230 COPD community services in England and Wales. Questions were designed to cover five aspects of telehealth in COPD: purpose of use, equipment type, clinician perceptions, variables monitored and personalisation of alarm limits. Results: 65 participants completed the survey from 52 different NHS Trusts. 46% of Trusts had used telehealth for COPD, and currently, 31% still provided telehealth services to patients with COPD. Telehealth is most commonly used for baseline monitoring and to allow early detection of exacerbations, with 54% believing it to be effective. The three most commonly monitored variables were oxygen saturation, heart rate and breathlessness. A variety of methods were used to set alarm limits with the majority of respondents believing that at least 40% of alarms were false. Conclusion: Around one-third of responded community COPD services are using telehealth, believing it to be effective without robust evidence, with a variety of variables monitored, a variety of hardware and varying techniques to set alarm limits with high false alarm frequencies.

Global use, utility, and methods of tele-health in COPD: a health care provider survey.

Introduction: Advances in technology offer various solutions that might help optimize the care provided to patients living with chronic non-communicable diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the efficacy of tele-health in COPD is still controversial. Despite this, there appears to be widespread adoption of this technology. Aim: To explore the international use of tele-heath for COPD, to assess the perceptions of clinicians employing tele-health in COPD, and to summarize the techniques that have been used by health care providers to personalize alarm limits for patients with COPD enrolled on tele-health programs. Methods: A cross-sectional survey consisting of 15 questions was distributed and advertised to health care professionals worldwide. Questions were designed to cover five different aspects of tele-health in COPD: purpose of use, equipment type, clinician perceptions, variables monitored, and personalization of alarm limits. Results: A total of 138 participants completed the survey from 29 different countries. As high as 59% of the participants had ever used tele-health for COPD, and 33% still provided tele-health services to patients with COPD. Tele-health was most commonly used for baseline monitoring, with 90% believing it to be effective. The three most commonly monitored variables were oxygen saturation, heart rate, and the use of rescue medication. Conclusion: Twenty-nine different countries use tele-health for managing COPD and therefore there is widespread international use of tele-health in COPD. The majority of providers thought tele-health was effective despite evidence to the contrary.