A pilot study to establish if the use of target saturation wristbands for community respiratory patients improves patient safety

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have identified that the use of target saturation wristbands in the acute setting significantly improves patient safety and reduces the incidences of inappropriately prescribed high flow oxygen in respiratory patients. (MacDonald et al 2015).

Aims and Objectives This study investigates whether the use of target saturation wristbands in the community is effective and improves patient safety by reducing the risk of Type II Respiratory failure (T2RF) in susceptible patients on presentation to the emergency department.

Methods: Patients known to the community respiratory team identified as having a previous T2RF hospital admission or hypercapnia on capillary blood gas were approached to wear a wristband identifying their target saturations when unwell. Audit of the number of hospital admissions with T2RF for this cohort of patients was undertaken at six months pre, plus six and twelve months post issue of wristband. To obtain patient feedback a questionnaire was used to capture patient satisfaction.

Results Wristbands issued 315. Hospital admissions with T2RF pre wristband 192 reducing to 54 post wristband issue. Patient survey identified high levels of satisfaction.

Conclusions: Initial findings indicate that the use of target saturation wristbands initiated in the community for COPD patients at risk of T2RF has the potential to reduce hospital admissions associated with T2RF and therefore improve patient safety. Further long term data analysis is suggested to ascertain if external factors such as increased patient awareness and understanding impacts on the findings of this study.