Assessment of Vascular Access Efficiency in Patients with Neurological Disorders and Its Relationship with Treatment Outcomes and Caregiver Satisfaction

Abstract

Background: Vascular access (VA) is one of the invasive procedures performed in patients receiving secondary care. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the association between VA quality, treatment outcomes, and caregiver satisfaction among patients admitted to hospitals in Ilam City. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 120 patients diagnosed with neurological disorders and admitted to the intensive care units of teaching hospitals in Ilam city during 2020 - 2021 were included. The data collection instrument comprised four sections: a demographic characteristics form, a VA evaluation checklist, a patient companion satisfaction questionnaire, and a treatment outcomes checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16, with descriptive and inferential statistical tests. Results: The study included patients with a mean age of 65.4 ± 12.9 years; most were male (57.5%) and rural residents (58.3%). The first-attempt success rate for VA was 96.7%, and complications, including swelling/redness (34.2%), phlebitis (24.2%), and hematoma (20%), were observed. Patient companions reported a high mean satisfaction score (33.55 ± 7.38). VA adequacy was strongly and positively correlated with caregiver satisfaction (r = 0.92, P < 0.001). However, the association with treatment outcomes was not statistically significant (P = 0.06). Conclusions: The quality of VA procedures among the studied patients was satisfactory; most procedures were successfully performed on the first attempt, and both nurses and physicians achieved proper fixation, with all indicators exceeding 90%. In addition, VA adequacy was significantly positively associated with patient companion satisfaction. However, VA adequacy was not significantly associated with treatment outcomes.