Barriers and facilitators to optimal sepsis care - a systematized review of healthcare professionals' perspectives.

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.

SUBMITTER: Draeger L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12020105 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature