30/04/2025
A study shows that while visible identification methods for deep vein thrombosis don't reduce pulmonary embolism rates, they significantly improve patient and family satisfaction in intensive care settings.
Enhancing Patient Safety Through Better Communication
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition in which blood clots form in the deep veins, typically in the legs. When these clots break loose and travel to the lungs, they can cause a potentially life-threatening complication called pulmonary embolism (PE). Due to immobility and other risk factors, patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are particularly vulnerable to developing DVT.
This innovative study, published in the Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine, investigated whether visibly marking patients with DVT could improve safety outcomes. Researchers tested a simple but potentially effective approach: applying skin markers and wristbands to clearly identify ICU patients who had DVT detected during routine ultrasound screening within 24 hours of admission.
Study Design and Findings
In this single-centre study conducted over one year, researchers compared two approaches:
Control group (first 6 months): Standard care for DVT patients
Intervention group (second 6 months): Standard care plus visible skin markers and wristbands indicating DVT status
Out of 1,231 ICU patients screened during the study period, 96 (7.8%) were found to have DVT and were included in the analysis. The patients were equally divided between the control and intervention groups, with 48 patients in each group.
Key Results:
No reduction in complications: The occurrence of pulmonary embolism was identical in both groups at 6.25%, indicating that the visible markers did not reduce this serious complication.
Significant improvement in satisfaction: Patient and family satisfaction was substantially higher in the intervention group, with 89.6% reporting being "very satisfied" compared to only 60.4% in the control group (p = 0.001).
Implications for ICU Practice
While the primary clinical outcome didn't improve, the significant increase in patient and family satisfaction suggests important benefits from this simple intervention. In today's healthcare environment, patient experience is recognized as a crucial component of quality care.
The study suggests that visible identification systems like wristbands play an important role in healthcare communication. Similar approaches have been shown to be effective in other areas of patient safety, with studies showing high adherence to the use of identification wristbands in ICUs (96% in one study).
This finding aligns with broader research indicating that effective communication is essential for maintaining patient safety in intensive care settings. When patients and families feel informed and included in care planning, their overall satisfaction with care increases significantly.
For Healthcare Professionals
While DVT prevention remains challenging in ICU settings, with reported incidence ranging from 5-31% despite prophylaxis measures, this study highlights that communication improvements can enhance the patient experience even when clinical outcomes remain unchanged.
For those working in critical care, this offers a simple, low-cost intervention that can meaningfully improve patient and family perceptions of care quality.
Visit the original article for complete details: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hkj2.70000
What other visual communication tools do you use to improve patient safety in critical care?
