‘Pinholes in my arms’: the vicious cycle of vascular access

Kelly, Linda; Snowden, Austyn

Abstract

Background:
Vascular access devices (VADs) are essential for delivery of intravenous therapies. There are notable gaps in the literature regarding a focus on patient experience and meaning-making related to living with a VAD, specifically a central venous access device (CVAD).

Aims:
To explore how patients make sense of living with a CVAD.

Methods:
This study followed an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach. Purposive sampling was used to identify 11 cancer patients who had a CVAD in situ. One-to-one semi-structured interviews were performed. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed and analysed by the lead author.

Findings:
Four superordinate themes were identified: the self under attack; being rescued/being robbed; protection of others/protection of self; bewilderment and dismay at lack of staff competence.

Conclusion:
Having a CVAD affects the psychological, social, and personal self and impacts on self-esteem and self-image. Despite this, CVADs are accepted by patients and are eventually ‘embodied’ by them.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 6, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jul 21, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Deposit Date: Apr 7, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 21, 2021
• Print ISSN: 0966-0461
• Publisher: Mark Allen Healthcare
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 14
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2021.30.14.S4
• Keywords: Central venous access devices, Patient experience, Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC), Tunneled central venous catheter, Totally implanted vascular access device
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2759518