A Formalized Venous Assessment Process for Vascular Access Reduces Inequities Related to Race and Sex: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-8-2026

Publication Title

Journal of nursing care quality

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Individuals identifying as Black and/or female experience disparities in peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) outcomes. Improving preinsertion venous assessment may help mitigate these inequities.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a standardized venous assessment approach on PIVC functionality and equity.

METHODS: We performed a propensity-matched pre-post analysis of hospitalized adult emergency department patients before and after implementation of standardized venous assessment within a venous access training program (Operation STICK). The primary outcome was PIVC functionality.

RESULTS: A total of 1796 encounters were analyzed (898 per cohort). Mean age was 64.8 years; 59.4% were female and 40.7% were Black. Preintervention, traditionally placed PIVCs in White males demonstrated 19.5% longer functionality than those in Black females (P = .03); this disparity was eliminated postintervention (P = .85).

CONCLUSIONS: Standardized venous assessment with objective escalation to ultrasound improves PIVC outcomes and eliminates observed racial- and sex-based disparities.

DOI

10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000954

ISSN

1550-5065

PubMed ID

41947283

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