Development of Nursing Guideline for Preventing Extravasation in Patients Receiving Contrast Media at Roi Et Hospital

Abstract

Purposes: To develop and evaluate nursing practice guidelines for the prevention of extravasation in patients receiving contrast media at Roi Et Hospital.

Study design: Action research.

Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 60 patients undergoing CT scan examinations with contrast media administration and 10 nurses working in the diagnostic radiology unit. The study was conducted between May 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, using Soukup’s evidence-based framework. The nursing practice guidelines were developed and subsequently refined. Research instruments included: (1) a nursing practice manual for extravasation prevention, developed by the researcher and validated for content accuracy by three experts; and (2) data collection tools comprising four parts—general information, an extravasation assessment guide, a nursing skill evaluation form, and a satisfaction survey regarding the use of the guidelines.

         Main findings:  The development of nursing practice guidelines consisted of two main activities: 1. Surveillance and prevention of extravasation 2. Management when extravasation occurs The implementation of these guidelines revealed that nurses demonstrated a high level of skill in practice and reported high satisfaction with their use. Regarding clinical outcomes, among a sample of 60 patients, 42 cases (70.0%) did not experience extravasation, while 18 cases (30%) did. All incidents were classified as mild in severity. These findings indicate that the developed guidelines enabled nurses to promptly detect and effectively manage situations, thereby improving patient safety.

Conclusion and Recommendations: The application of nursing practice guidelines for extravasation prevention in patients undergoing diagnostic procedures with CT and MRI requiring contrast media injection reduced the incidence of extravasation and limited its severity to mild cases. It is recommended that these guidelines be integrated into nursing processes to enhance the quality of patient care in radiology departments.