J Infus Nurs. 2026 Jan-Feb 01;49(1):22-28. doi: 10.1097/NAN.0000000000000629. Epub 2025 Dec 23.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The United States opioid crisis has led to significant health care challenges. Patients who inject drugs (PWID) may self-inject illicit substances into vascular access devices (SIVAD). This behavior can lead to complications, including overdose and death. Given lack of data on SIVAD, this study aims to survey hospital staff on experiences with PWID and SIVAD, assess effectiveness of current protocols, and highlight the underreporting of incidents and their impact on care.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among hospital staff. The survey assessed experiences with SIVAD, perceptions, and suggestions for improvement. Analyses with descriptive statistics for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative responses were performed.
RESULTS: Overall, 254 surveys were obtained. Of these, 31.7% (72/227) reported confirmed SIVAD during their care, and 48.6% (110/226) believed their patient did not complete care due to the stigma of SIVAD. Furthermore, 72.3% (68/94) reported altering care plans due to concern of SIVAD. Finally, 93.8% (212/226) of respondents stated that they would use a device to mitigate SIVAD, if available.
CONCLUSION: By surveying hospital staff about their experience with SIVAD, this study highlights the impact and underreporting of this issue. This study also underscores the need for enhanced patient safety in cases of SIVAD and desire for new protocols and devices to improve care quality.
PMID:41494173 | DOI:10.1097/NAN.0000000000000629
