The use of heparin versus saline to maintain the patency of peripheral intravenous catheters has been addressed in research for many years. The American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHSP) published a position paper in January 2006 advocating its support of the use of 0.9% saline in the maintenance of peripheral catheters in nonpregnant adults. It seems surprising that this position paper references articles that advocate the use of saline over heparin dating from 1991. What do you believe are some of the barriers that would have caused this delay in implementation?

Question

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The Answer is There are several potential barriers that could have caused the delay in implementing the use of saline over heparin for maintaining the patency of peripheral intravenous catheters.

Firstly, there may have been a lack of awareness or dissemination of the research supporting the use of saline over heparin. It is possible that healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, nurses, and physicians, were not aware of the evidence or were not convinced of its validity.

Secondly, there may have been resistance to change within healthcare institutions. Implementing a new practice or protocol can be challenging, especially if it requires re-educating staff, updating policies and procedures, and potentially changing established routines.

Additionally, there may have been concerns about the safety and efficacy of using saline instead of heparin. Heparin has been a standard practice for maintaining catheter patency for many years, and there may have been hesitancy to deviate from this practice without clear evidence of the benefits of using saline.

Furthermore, there may have been financial considerations that influenced the decision-making process. Heparin is a relatively inexpensive medication, and there may have been concerns about the cost of switching to saline, especially if it was perceived as a less effective alternative.

Overall, the delay in implementing the use of saline over heparin for maintaining peripheral intravenous catheters may have been influenced by a combination of factors including awareness, resistance to change, safety concerns, and financial considerations.

The Use of Heparin Versus Saline to Maintain the Patency