Picc line home care knowledge and practices: primary and secondary effects of aninformation booklet

Abstract

Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICCs) are widely used in cancer patients requiring long-term intravenous therapy, particularly for the administration of chemotherapy. Although PICCs provide safe and reliable vascular access, improper home care can result in complications such as infections, thrombosis, catheter occlusion, and accidental dislodgement. As most patients are discharged with the catheter in place, adequate knowledge and appropriate self-care practices are essential for preventing complications and ensuring successful catheter maintenance. Therefore, educating patients regarding PICC line home care is an important component of comprehensive cancer care. The present study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of an information booklet on knowledge and self-reported practices regarding PICC line home care among cancer patients discharged with a PICC line and to determine the association of baseline knowledge and practice scores with selected demographic and clinical variables. A quantitative pre-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted among 51 cancer patients discharged with a PICC line from BRAIRCH, AIIMS, New Delhi. Participants were selected using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. Baseline assessment of knowledge and self-reported practices regarding PICC line home care was carried out using a structured knowledge questionnaire and a self-reported practice questionnaire. Following the pre-test, a validated information booklet on PICC line home care was administered along with individual instruction and clarification of doubts. Post-test assessments were conducted on the 7th and 14th day after the intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including Repeated Measures ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc test, Chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test. The findings revealed a statistically significant improvement in both knowledge and practice scores following the intervention. The mean knowledge score increased from 16.01 ± 4.36 during the pre-test to 20.31 ± 3.18 on Day 7 and remained significantly higher at 19.60 ± 2.24 on Day 14 (p < 0.001). Similarly, the mean practice score improved from 31.33 ± 3.78 at baseline to 34.78 ± 2.75 on Day 7 and 33.58 ± 3.56 on Day 14 (p < 0.001). The proportion of participants with adequate knowledge increased from 19.6% at baseline to 72.5% and 60.8% during the first and second post-tests respectively. Likewise, adequate practice levels improved from 39.2% at baseline to 88.3% and 74.5% during the subsequent assessments. No significant association was found between baseline knowledge and practice scores and selected demographic or clinical variables. The study concluded that the information booklet was an effective educational intervention for improving and sustaining knowledge and self-reported practices related to PICC line home care among cancer patients. The findings support the integration of structured educational materials into routine discharge planning to promote safe home management of PICC lines, enhance patient confidence in self-care, and reduce the risk of catheterrelated complications