Barriers and facilitators to optimal sepsis care – a systematized review of healthcare professionals’ perspectives
Lea Draeger, Carolin Fleischmann-Struzek, Sabine Gehrke-Beck, Christoph Heintze, Daniel Thomas‐Rüddel, Konrad Schmidt
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite therapeutic advances, sepsis remains a global burden. Shortcomings within the healthcare system that inflate morbidity and mortality rates are instructive in this regard. This review aims to provide a qualitative synthesis of literature related to healthcare providers' perspectives on sepsis care, emphasizing perceived factors that impact the adequate care of septic patients and sepsis survivors. METHODS: In February 2023, we conducted a systematized search approach using the PubMed database. RESULTS: Of 114 articles found in the PubMed database, 37 were included. A further 13 articles were identified by manual search. Healthcare providers highlighted a variety of dysfunctional and functional processes with an impact on sepsis care. Six domains were identified, related to the underlying disease, the patient, the provider, the guidelines, the healthcare system, and the collaboration among providers. Of note, providers' level of knowledge and a lack of communication between disciplines and/or sectors were reported as shortcomings in each phase of the care pathway (prevention, recognition, treatment, transitions of care, and aftercare). CONCLUSIONS: This review suggests that, without limitation, interventions that provide continuous provider education as well as standard communication channels between interdisciplinary and intersectoral providers have great potential to improve structural deficiencies in sepsis care.