Abstract

CHAVES, Jéssica et al. An Audit of Oxygen Therapy Practices in an Internal Medicine Ward. Medicina Interna [online]. 2019, vol.26, n.4, pp.23-27. ISSN 0872-671X.

Introduction: Oxygen (O₂) prescription is frequent in an Internal Medicine ward. Recommendations such as the British Thoracic Society establish the appropriate use of O₂ in health care. Our objective was to evaluate O₂ therapy procedures in an Internal Medicine ward, in light of 2017  British Thoracic Society recommendations. Methods: We conducted an observational study, during a period of 48 hours, which included patients admitted to the Internal Medicine ward of Hospital Central do Funchal, under oxygen therapy, with or without prescription. We analysed: 1) the reason for the prescription, 2) the type of prescription (fixed dose versus peripheral O₂ interval saturation oriented dose), 3) accordance between prescription and administration, and 4) monitoring (prescription and registration). Results: From a total of 116 hospitalized patients, 114 (98%) had O₂ prescription. Six patients (5.3%) had no hypoxemia, and 57 (50%) had no hypoxemia assessment registration. From the 114 patients with a prescription, only 38 (33%) had targeted saturation range objectives. Of these, 61% did not have prescribed the maximum saturation target and only 8% had the two interval limits defined. From 76 patients (67%) with fixed dose prescription, none had the registrations of the four recommended parameters. Eight (11%) did not receive O2 therapy and 39 (51%) were receiving an O₂ dose different from the one prescribed. Monitoring was performed, on average, 2.16 times in a 24 hours period. Five patients (4%) had no monitoring record. Conclusion: The majority of O₂ therapy prescriptions did not meet the current recommendations. Therefore, practice optimization is needed in the prescription, administration and monitoring of O₂ therapy steps. It is necessary to raise awareness among health professionals and reprise outcome audition.

Keywords : Clinical Audit; Hospital Departments; Internal Medicine; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy.

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