Authors (including presenting author) :
Lui SY(1), Wong SM(1), Chan CY(1), Tsui YC(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Physiotherapy Department, Prince of Wales Hospital
Introduction :
The number of newly recruited PT staff who are new to inpatient setting and not familiar with suction have been increased in recent years. Suction is a relatively invasive procedure among PT interventions, which may cause deterioration in patient’s condition if not handle properly. To minimize the risks caused by suction, proper suctioning procedures and techniques and reasonable clinical reasoning are crucial. It is important to ensure all PT staff have enough competency in suction before practicing independently.
Objectives :
1) To increase the competency of PT staff, who are new to inpatient setting or have not perform suction for more than one year, in suction.
2) To minimize the incidence caused by suction.
Methodology :
Two categories of PT staff will be included. The first category is PT staff who are new to inpatient setting. They will receive training for suction with PTI and perform three suction cases (at least one nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal suction and at least one tracheal suction) under supervision of inpatient PTI within three months. The second category is PT staff who have not practiced suctioning technique for more than one year and need to practice suction during weekday or holiday. They will undergo revision for suction and perform at least one suction case with cross checked by inpatient PTI.
A checklist for suction procedures is marked by supervised PTI. PT staff needs to pass the checklist before practicing suction independently. The incidence rate for suction, performance on checklist and number of PT staff involved will be recorded and reviewed.
Result & Outcome :
From June 2020 to January 2021, 5 PT staff who are new to inpatient setting and 1 PT staff who has not done suction for more than one year had completed the suction training within three months and passed the checklist with good performance i.e. 100% mark. No deterioration incidence concerning suction has been recorded since the implementation of this program. PT staff involved in this program gave positive feedback to this program as they had increased confidence and competency in performing suction independently after this program.
Conclusion:
This program increased the competency of PT staff, who are new to inpatient setting or have not perform suction for more than one year, on suction and minimized the risks caused by suction.
