Vessel Health and Preservation: Vascular Access Assessment, Selection, Insertion, Management, Evaluation and Clinical Education

Abstract

Background: This thesis is a submission taking the form of a collection of original authored published works under the theme of Vessel Health and Preservation. My contribution to scholarly knowledge is the establishment of evidence, through research, for the preservation of veins for patients receiving intravenous therapies, and applying this evidence throughout the key concept areas of assessment and selection, insertion, management and evaluation within the Vessel Health and Preservation theme. Education is central within and across these concept areas. The research, reported in seven publications, forms the body of the thesis. The publications include three systematic reviews, one retrospective cohort analysis, two prospective quasi-experimental cohort studies, and one multi-centre quasi-experimental study. Each of these publications meets the requirement for original and contemporary content.