Measurement of patient-reported outcomes and experiences for peripheral venous catheters in acute care: A scoping review of instruments and survey items
Abstract
Background: Healthcare consumers are highly dependent upon peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) for intravenous therapy administration. Outcomes and experiences related to these devices vary, as placement may require multiple insertion attempts; and subsequent PIVC failure (e.g., dislodgement, infiltration) is common. This scoping review was conducted to map the evidence base for tools/instruments measuring patient-reported outcomes, and experiences of PIVCs. Methods: Scopus, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched (January 1990-April 2026). Experimental and observational studies were included if published in English and involved using an instrument, or item/s that collected outcome and/or experience data, relating to PIVC insertion, care, maintenance, and/or removal. Individual ‘items’ (questions/scales) used to elicit responses related to patient outcomes or experiences were extracted and grouped into ‘domains’ (themes). Results were presented using descriptive statistics. Results: The search identified 35,654 titles; with N = 102 studies included in the review. There was a largely even distribution of adult (n = 51, 50%) and paediatric studies (n = 48, 47%); 43 studies (42%) conducted exclusively in the Emergency Department. Patient-reported experience domains were identified: pain; anxiety; discomfort; fear; distress; education, information and consent; patient confidence; procedure; pain management; communication; device/complication management; psychological burden; device location; activities of daily living; and overall experience. Patient-reported outcome domains included worry and anxiety, and future vascular access route preferences. Conclusion: A wide variety of instruments and items exist to collect data on patient-reported outcomes and experiences regarding PIVCs. Findings demonstrated that short-term procedural domains (pain, anxiety) were more frequently assessed than broader experiential domains, such as communication or confidence.