A Multidisciplinary Approach to Increase Compliance With Spontaneous Awakening Trials and Spontaneous Breathing Trials in the Medical Intensive Care Unit.

Abstract

Prolonged mechanical ventilation can lead to undesirable outcomes, including reduced 6-month survival, increased hospital mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and physiological stress. A large academic medical center currently has a Spontaneous Awakening Trials/Spontaneous Breathing Trials (SAT/SBT) protocol with an SAT/SBT compliance goal of 80%; however, the medical intensive care unit's (MICU) SAT/SBT compliance rate was only 33% for FY2020. The Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (DMAIC) framework was used to guide this quality improvement project. Current processes and root causes for noncompliance were analyzed through chart reviews, a preimplementation staff survey, and meetings with stakeholders. Compliance rates were compared before and after implementation. Interventions included education, reminder fliers, weekly chart audits, and individualized weekly emails to noncompliant RNs and RTs. To achieve project sustainability, 2 unit champions were selected to continue the weekly emails and chart audits. Data were collected from 216 patients and 1063 patient ventilator days from October 2020 to October 2021. The SAT/SBT compliance steadily increased throughout the 13-month implementation period, except for 3 months. The preimplementation monthly SAT/SBT compliance rate was 26% in September 2020. After 13 months of project implementation, the SAT/SBT compliance rate was 64% in October 2021. There was no significant change in patient ventilator days pre- and post-quality improvement project. A multi-intervention implementation strategy consisting of education in-services, weekly chart audits, weekly emails to staff with current compliance rates, and reminder fliers can successfully increase SAT/SBT compliance rates. Utilizing unit champions provides sustainability.