The use of multidose vials and fingerstick blood sampling devices in Korean emergency departments and intensive care units

• Published in: International journal of nursing practice Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 77 - 83
• Main Authors: Kwak, Yee Gyung, Lee, Sang-Oh, Kim, Tae Hyong, Choo, Eun Ju, Jeon, Min-Hyok, Jun, Jae-Bum, Kim, Kyung-Mi, Jeong, Jae Sim, Kim, Yang Soo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01.02.2012; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Accident and emergency departments; Blood tests; Compliance; disinfection; Drug dosages; Drugs; emergency department; Emergency medical care; emergency medical services; Emergency Service, Hospital - organization & administration; fingerstick; Hospitals; Humans; Hygiene; Intensive care; intensive care unit; Intensive care units; Intensive Care Units - organization & administration; Medical personnel; multidose vials; Nurses; Nursing; Nursing care; Phlebotomy - instrumentation; Phlebotomy - methods; Republic of Korea; Specimen Handling - instrumentation; Republic of Korea; South Korea; Korea, Rep
• ISSN: 1322-7114; 1440-172X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-172X.2011.01994.x

Kwak YG, Lee S‐O, Kim TH, Choo EJ, Jeon M‐H, Jun J‐B, Kim K‐M, Jeong JS, Kim YS. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2012; 18: 77–83 The use of multidose vials and fingerstick blood sampling devices in Korean emergency departments and intensive care units This study was performed to compare compliance with standard precautions for the use of multidose vials (MDVs) and fingerstick devices in emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs). Between December 2007 and February 2008, 389 nurses from the EDs or ICUs of six university‐affiliated hospitals in Korea were asked to complete the questionnaire. A total of 338 (86.9%) nurses completed the survey, corresponding to 159 of 184 ED and 179 of 205 ICU nurses. A comparison of MDV use in EDs and ICUs indicated a significant difference only in disinfection of the rubber septum of heparin vials; 88.1% of ED nurses and 96.6% of ICU nurses stated that they always disinfected the rubber septum of heparin vials whenever drawing medication (P = 0.003). The use of separate fingerstick devices for each patient (71.7% vs. 54.5%) and disinfection of these devices after each use (36.5% vs. 26.0%) were more common in ED nurses. The rate of good hand hygiene was lower in ED nurses, both before (43.7% vs. 74.3%) and after (64.6% vs. 91.6%) the use of fingerstick devices (P < 0.001 for both). There is a need to improve compliance with standard precautions, especially hand hygiene, in EDs.