title: Risk factor for phlebitis: a questionnaire study of nurses' perception.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to assess nurses' perceptions of risk factors for the development of phlebitis, with a special focus on the perception of phlebitic potentials of some infusion medications and solutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  a cross-sectional questionnaire study, which included a sample of 102 nurses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nurses recognized some factors that may reduce the incidence of phlebitis; however, more than half of the nurses were unaware that the material and diameter of the cannula can affect the incidence rate of phlebitis. Furthermore,underlying disease and high pH of medications or solutions were identified as potential risk factors, whereas low pH and low osmolality were not. Nurses identified Vancomycin and Benzylpenicillin antibiotics with the strongest phlebitic potential. Among other medications and intravenous fluids, Aminophylline, Amiodaronehydrochloride and Potassium chloride 7.4% were identified as potentially causing phlebitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  predisposing factors for phlebitis relating to patients and administered therapy were identified by nurses, while some cannula related risk factors, in particular its physicochemical properties and the time for cannula replacement, were not fully perceived.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, RS.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Milutinović
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, RS.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simin
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer, HR.
authors.forename: Davor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zec
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009729:Nursing; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report