Evidence-Based Management of PICCs and Totally Implantable Venous Access Ports: The Experience of Santa Maria Hospital in Terni

Abstract

Introduction. Peripherally inserted central catheters and totally implantable venous access ports are widely used in oncology and require specific nursing competencies to minimize device-related complications. However, expertise in their management is often concentrated within oncology units, potentially affecting the safe use of these devices in other hospital settings. This initiative aimed to describe the implementation and initial evaluation of a hospital-wide training programme for vascular access device management.

Methods. A descriptive evaluation of an educational programme was conducted at Santa Maria Hospital in Terni. The blended course comprised four hours of classroom instruction and one hour of supervised workplace training. Faculty included oncology nurses and a vascular access nurse selected according to their professional experience. The programme awarded 7.5 continuing medical education credits. Learning was assessed through a multiple-choice test and a practical examination conducted in the Oncology Day Hospital. Satisfaction was evaluated using a five-point Likert scale.

Results. Two course editions were completed, involving 32 healthcare professionals. Regarding relevance, 13% of respondents assigned a score of 4 and 87% a score of 5. For educational quality, 6% assigned a score of 3, 20% a score of 4, and 74% a score of 5. Regarding usefulness, the corresponding percentages were 13%, 6%, and 81%.

Discussion. The high satisfaction ratings indicate that participants perceived the programme as relevant, useful, and of good quality. Training in vascular access management should be integrated into an organization-wide programme incorporating surveillance, clinical audits, care bundles, and checklists. Future evaluations should examine changes in knowledge, practical competence, skill retention, and device-related clinical outcomes. Additional course editions involving nurses, physicians, and midwives are planned.