Barriers and Facilitators Affecting the Implementation of the Sepsis Six Protocol by Nurses in Acute Care Settings in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Introduction: Sepsis is an emergency condition that necessitates immediate and appropriate nursing interventions for improving patient outcomes. Nurses have an essential role to play in recognizing the early warning signs of sepsis, implementing timely healthcare treatments, and providing comprehensive care to enhance patient outcomes. This study examines the barriers and facilitators affecting the implementation of the Sepsis Six protocol among nurses in acute care settings in Jordan.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify nurses' perceived barriers and facilitators affecting their implementation of the Sepsis Six guidelines in acute care settings in Jordan.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among a convenience sample of 180 nurses working in acute care settings (i.e., the ICU, CCU, ED, burns unit, and dialysis unit) at a university hospital. An online survey from a previous study was used to evaluate the nurses' perceived barriers and facilitators affecting their implementation of the Sepsis Six guidelines in acute care settings.

Results: This study revealed that the main barriers facing the critical care nurses were environmental, which included lack of time, lack of sufficient staffing, and lack of available beds. Meanwhile, the main facilitators were emotional and intentional. For example, the nurses believed all of the Sepsis Six steps and guidelines to be very important for improving patient outcomes and decreasing sepsis-related complications.

Conclusion: This study revealed that barriers related to knowledge, environment, and resources can affect nurses' compliance with sepsis guidelines. On the other hand, the findings revealed many strategies and facilitators which can improve nurses' compliance with these guidelines and hence improve patient outcomes. These facilitators include ongoing education and training, the availability of resources, and effective teamwork and sepsis-related communication. However, further research is required to further investigate the barriers and facilitators that can affect nurses' adherence to sepsis guidelines.