Implementation of multiprofessional sepsis training
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A STUDY To investigate the feasibility of the implementation of a multi-professional model of training for the management of sepsis ON A MEDICAL AND SURGICAL ward at NORTH BRISTOL – A FEASIBILITY STUDY
IRAS ID
221830
Contact name
Tim Draycott
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
North Bristol NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, months, days
Research summary
Sepsis is now being recognised as an important and growing health concern worldwide. It is a clinical syndrome caused by the body’s response to an infection. If unrecognised or untreated it can progress to septic shock which is characterised by low blood pressure despite adequate fluid replacement, and organ dysfunction or failure leading to death
In the UK, it has been estimated that approximately 44,000 deaths a year can be attributed to sepsis with 123,000 cases of sepsis being reported annually. Importantly, the incidence is thought to be rising by 6% to 8% a year with a cost to the NHS of an estimated £2.5 billion. The UK Sepsis Trust estimates that a typical medium-sized general hospital could save £1.25 million every year through improved management of sepsis, and that achieving 80% delivery of the basic standards of care is likely to save around £170 million per year across the NHS.
Because of the risk of serious illness and death associated with delay in treatment in sepsis, we would like to undertake a study to evaluate a training programme for use throughout the hospital, which is based on a model of training already used in the maternity services (PROMPT).
PROMPT was developed by the maternity services team at NBT. It consists of yearly multi-professional skill training days on managing emergency Obstetric situations, including sepsis for all the staff in the department. Research has shown that with PROMPT training there has been a more positive perception of patient safety by staff, improved communication and team performance, and, most importantly improved outcomes for babies.
It is very likely that this multidisciplinary training may also be effective outside of the maternity setting to improve care for sepsis, but this needs to be robustly tested.
The aim of our research project is to assess the feasibility of the implementation of a PROMPT model of training for the recognition and management of sepsis, in an acute medical ward setting at NBT.
More specifically we would like to assess:
• If we can accurately identify patients with sepsis
• If the implementation of the PROMPT model of training for sepsis on the acute medical ward is possible for all staff(attendance/compliance with training)
• If staff perceptions’ of ward safety will change after undertaking the training
• Perceptions of the training by participating ward staff
• Number of patients with sepsis who are treated appropriately with the six-step treatment compared to before the training
• Numbers of patients with sepsis who develop severe sepsis and need to have special intensive care treatment compared to before the training
If we show that it is possible to train all staff working on an acute medical ward, we will then aim to pilot the training in other wards across the hospital, and subsequently in other hospitals across the UK with a larger future trial. By improving patient care with staff training, we ultimately hope to decrease the current significant rates of harm or death from sepsis in the UK and worldwide.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EM/0113
Date of REC Opinion
15 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion