Promoting Safer Cancer Care: What the PRACTICE Survey Reveals About VAD Use Across Europe

Study Overview
The PRACTICE survey—Promoting a Research Agenda for Cancer Treatment for Intravenous Devices with Clinicians in Europe—explored how vascular access devices (VADs) are used to deliver systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) across 18 European countries. Conducted between May and October 2024, this cross-sectional survey aimed to uncover gaps in clinician decision-making, training, and complication management for VADs.

Over 400 healthcare professionals participated, including oncologists, nurses, and haematologists working with cancer patients. The goal was to inform future research priorities and improve care consistency across the continent.

Key Findings

• Decision-Making: Oncologists were the primary decision-makers in 36% of cases, but nursing staff played a critical role in ongoing VAD management.
• Regional Variation: Preferences varied significantly—PIVCs dominated in Ireland and Finland (43-49%), while TIVADs were preferred in Belgium (65%).
• Training Gaps: Despite many clinicians reporting confidence, 80% expressed a need for more education, especially in managing complications.
• Inconsistent Guidelines: Just 51% of respondents reported institutional protocols guiding VAD selection, pointing to widespread variability in practice.
• Barriers: Lack of access to vascular access teams (VATs), insufficient training, and fragmented guidance were major obstacles to optimal device selection and patient care.

Implications

The survey highlights an urgent need for standardised VAD protocols in cancer care across Europe. It also suggests that interdisciplinary collaboration—particularly involving vascular access teams—and robust clinician training programs are essential for improving patient outcomes.
Future efforts could integrate VAD decision-making into cancer certification programs and encourage stronger partnerships between oncology and vascular access communities.

Read more:linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2213538325000876   

Authors: Caitriona Duggan, Orlaith Hernon, Andrew J. Simpkin, Viktor Manasek, Julio C. de la Torre-Montero, Paulo Santos-Costa, Jonathan G. Moss, Christina H. Ruhlmann, Knut Taxbro, Miguel Angel Rodriguez-Calero, Rodrigo Oom, Rita Barroca, Onagh O. Grady, Jacqueline Daly, Ian Blanco-Mavillard, Nikolina Dodlek, Jiri Charvát, Saloa Unanue-Arza, Bibiana Krakovska, Peter J. Carr