Effect of skin antisepsis on phlebitis in peripheral intravenous catheter applications

This study is a randomized controlled double-blind experimental type study to determine the effect of skin antisepsis on phlebitis before peripheral intravenous catheter applications. The sample of the study consisted 60 patients who were hospitalized in Surgery-1 and Surgery -2 Clinics in Cukurova Universty Balcalı Hospital Health Practice and Research Center between January-September 2020. In the study, data were collected with questionnaire prepared in line with the literature. "Independent Sample-t" test (t-table value) method was used to compare the measurement values of two independent groups with the measurement values, and the "Mann- Whitney U" test (Z-table value) method was used to compare the measurement values of two independent groups in accordance with non-parametric. "Fisher-Exact", "continity correction" or "Pearson-χ2" crosstabs were used according to the expected value levels in examining the relations between two qualitative variables. When the invidual characteristics of patients included in the study were evaluated, it was determined that the mean age was 49.5±11.76 years, the mean BMI (Body Mass İndex) was 25.03±5.74 (owerweight), the majority of them were male (56.7%), and 30% of the patients had a history of smoking. It was observed that 73.3% of the patients did not have a chronic disease, and among those with chronic diseases, DM (Diabetes Mellitus) and hypertension were the most common (37.5%) group. Considering the characteristics of PİVK (Peripheral İntravenous Catheter), it was found that the catheter was mostly inserted in the forearm (61.7%). When the phlebitis development of the patients included in the study was examined; it has been found that it is more common in women, in patients who are overweight by BMI, chronic diseases patients, and smokers. İt was observed that phlebitis developed mostly in the forearm with a rate of 69.2%. In patients who developing phlebitis, the most developed degree of phlebitis was determined as 1st degree. Although it is observed that phlebitis can develop at any hour, it has been found that the maximum development of phlebitis is between 32-40 hours. As a result of our research, it was determined that phlebitis developed in 5 patients (16.7%) in the experimental group in which chlorhexidine was used in PİVK, and in 8 patients (26.7%) in the control group that used alcohol. İt was found that there was no statiscially significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of phlebitis development (p>0.05). Keywords: Skin antisepsis, Phlebitis, Phlebitis Scale, Peripheral Intravenous Catheter.