Scientific Poster Session IV - Original Research

Original Research
  Tuesday, October 15, 2024
  08:30 AM–10:00 AM

Abstract

Introduction:

Previous research has indicated differences based on provider gender, including the likelihood to follow clinical practice guideline recommendations. The 2021 Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) Guidelines updated the supplemental text to recommend ideal body weight (IBW) to dose resuscitation fluids. This study's purpose was to understand current practices and opinions regarding this recommendation with respect to gender.

Research Question or Hypothesis:

Does gender impact practices and perceptions of SSC guideline recommendations?

Study Design:

Cross-sectional survey electronically distributed to Society of Critical Care Medicine members.

Methods:

Demographics, practices, and opinions related to sepsis management were queried. Outcomes included assessment of practitioner use of guideline recommendation to use IBW for dosing resuscitation fluids (i.e., 30 mL/kg) and opinion on their level of agreement with this recommendation and were compared between gender groups using the Chi-squared test. Logistic regression was applied to account for confounding variables. Analyses were conducted using SPSS Version 29 with alpha <0.05 considered significant.

Results:

There were 485 responses, including 62.7% physicians, 15.5% pharmacists, 17.3% advanced practice providers, and 4.5% nurses/other, representing 42.5% female and 54.6% male. Male practitioners were more likely to use IBW in practice for dosing fluid resuscitation than females in non-obese (20% vs. 13%, p=0.011) and obese (43% vs. 38%, p=0.022) patients. Practitioner gender was similar with respect to opinion on the use of IBW for non-obese (37.7% vs. 36.4%, p=0.056) and obese (62.6% vs. 61.2%, p=0.425) patients. These findings lost significance in multiple logistic regression controlling for clinician type, institution type, and years in practice.

Conclusion:

While gender differences in clinical practice have been reported previously, the observation of male clinicians being more likely to follow guideline recommendations differs from these previous reports, although was not maintained in regression analysis. Potential reasons for this finding may include differences in knowledge or trust in recommendations. Interpretation is limited by the reliance on accurate self-reporting.

Presenting Author

Emma Covington BS, PharmD Candidate

Authors

Trisha N. Branan PharmD, BCCCP, FCCM
University of Georgia College of Pharmacy

Alexander Ruehman PharmD Candidate
Susan E. Smith PharmD, BCCCP, FCCM
University of Georgia College of Pharmacy