Schwab, Steven & Joseph , Kevin. Ketamine gap analysis and toolkit development to increase its use by anesthesia providers in the perioperative setting. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-rp8a-h712
DescriptionKetamine is a widely accessible and valuable drug that has been used in anesthesia since the 1960s after its discovery.
Purpose of Project. Research has supported its usage for improved patient outcomes, however, there is a gap in the research and clinical practice as many anesthesia providers shy away from ketamine in favor of other agents.
Methodology. This project utilized a state nurse anesthesia professional association to perform a gap analysis as to why clinicians shy away from ketamine usage.
Results. The results of the gap analysis were analyzed to create a ketamine toolkit and presentation to bridge this research to practice gap. A total of 137 members responded to the gap analysis survey with several relationships being seen from the data that was collected. There was a strong relationship seen between the number of years in practice and the comfort and knowledge in providers with a p = .001. Another strong relationship was seen between the comfort and knowledge of ketamine and the frequency of its use p<0.00001. Furthermore 82.2% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that a toolkit and workshop would be helpful to them which is further evidenced by the toolkit being digitally accessed over 100 times.
Implications for Practice. This project serves as means to further increase provider comfortability and knowledge base of ketamine use in the appropriate patient populations. This in turn can help to improve patient outcomes by aiding providers mastery of the agents they have available to them and allow a better individualized anesthetic experience for the patients they serve. The gap between research and clinical practice can be narrowed.