Research on Safe Practices Amongst Lab Technicians During Phlebotomy

This research proposal investigates the critical need for safe practices in phlebotomy, focusing on lab technicians and their role in minimizing errors and improving patient outcomes. The study explores the potential risks associated with phlebotomy, including exposure to bodily fluids, allergic reactions, physical injuries, and low blood pressure. It examines the effectiveness of safe practices in reducing these risks and enhancing clinical outcomes, such as providing proper care and avoiding accidents. The research also delves into ways of integrating and maintaining safe practices, including planning ahead, using appropriate locations, quality control, and adherence to quality care standards. The methodology section outlines the research methods to be employed, setting the stage for a comprehensive analysis of phlebotomy safety. The literature review provides a comprehensive overview of the importance of safe phlebotomy practices, highlighting the potential dangers and the need for adherence to safety protocols to ensure patient well-being.

Research Proposal

Abstract
Phlebotomy is considered as healthcare practice which include practices related to blood
sample and keep it in the safe manner so that patent get proper information of test. An
examination is in this manner, led under present exploration on phlebotomists or lab specialists
about approach to incorporate safe practices inside consideration settings. A spotlight is
additionally passed on preparing necessity for plasma and red cell trade, immature
microorganism assortment, photophoresis, line blood assortment and that's just the beginning, for
diminishing the danger of sullying, research center or administrative mistake, injury and
contamination. For this cycle, before continuing a top to bottom information about same,
legitimate points and goals are confined, that helps in deciding the way to make research
examination more successful.

Table of Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................2
Title: “An Investigation into maintaining safe practices amongst lab technicians during
phlebotomy”.....................................................................................................................................1
Research Question...........................................................................................................................1
Hypothesis........................................................................................................................................1
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Aims & Objectives...........................................................................................................................2
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................2
Possible Methodology......................................................................................................................6
Potential methods, resources and timeline.......................................................................................8
Limitations.....................................................................................................................................24
Discussion......................................................................................................................................24
Recommendation...........................................................................................................................25
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................26
References......................................................................................................................................27

Title: “An Investigation into maintaining safe practices amongst lab
technicians during phlebotomy”
Research Question
“How safe practices can be maintained amongst lab technicians during phlebotomy to
reduce errors in health outcomes?”
Hypothesis
“Negligence of maintaining safe practices during phlebotomy result in laboratory errors and
delay in diagnosing diseases”.
Introduction
Phlebotomy refers to one of the common practices in health care, that includes procedure of
taking blood sample and keep it safe for further medical process. This procedure may include
drawing of blood culture, arterial sampling, venous blood draws and capillary sampling, where
each step affects directly on quality of the specimen (Orth and et. al., 2019). Therefore, it is
important for professionals or lab technicians to prevent the laboratory error and patient injury
during medications. For an instance, touching patient’s hand by a finger for verifying the vein’s
location before needle insertion might increase chance related to contamination of blood sample.
Consequences of this, results in false result outcomes regarding with blood culture, prolong
hospitalization, delay in diagnosing disease and cause unnecessary intake of antibiotics. Jostling
and jarring of specimen test tubes in transit may lyse or even break open the RBCs (red blood
cells), that causing errors in laboratory results. However, a number of safety practices have been
introduced in UK, by NHS and other health associations to reduce risks of adverse effects for
patients like bruising at the puncture site, nerve damage, fainting and more (McCall, 2020).
Health workers before practising Phlebotomy are properly to the types and entire safer practices
of specimen they collect. But still a number of cases have been happened that sometime results
in even death of patients, due to negligence of safer practices in phlebotomy.
An investigation is therefore, conducted under present research on phlebotomists or lab
technicians about way to integrate safe practices within care settings. A focus is also conveyed
on training requirement for plasma and red cell exchange, stem cell collection, photophoresis,
cord blood collection and more, for reducing the risk of contamination, laboratory or clerical
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error, injury and infection. For this process, before proceeding an in-depth knowledge about
same, proper aims and objectives are framed, that helps in determining the path to make research
investigation more effective.
Aims & Objectives
Research Aim: “To carry out investigation on role of maintaining safe practices in reducing
errors during phlebotomy and its adverse impact on health outcomes”.
Research Objectives:
 To explore the potential risks that could arise during phlebotomy for both lab technicians
and patients.
 To determine the effectiveness of safe practices in reducing risks and improving clinical
outcomes during phlebotomy.
 To analyse the ways of integrating and maintaining safe sharp practices in phlebotomy
procedure.
LITERATURE REVIEW
What are the potential risks that could arise during phlebotomy for both lab technicians
and patients.
As per the views of Sharon Perkins (2020), it has been determined that there is different risk
that could arise during the process of phlebotomy. The risk related to phlebotomy is to both lab
technicians as well as patients. It is important for health care provider to identify and determine
different types of risk of the it can be resolved correctly and accurately. Phlebotomy can be
describe as the process of removing blood or drawing blood form the circulatory system through
the incision cut or puncture with the motive of collecting sample of blood for analysing or
diagnosis of the issue (What Are Some of the Dangers of Being a Phlebotomist?, 2020). The
purpose of act of phlebotomy is to correctly treat polycythemia vera which is consider as the
condition that causes an elevated red blood cell volume. This is a complex process which consist
of different risk and could cause major harms. It has been analysed that there are more the
patients which has small bruise and mild soreness at the process of puncture site for the next
several days. The major risk that can arise during the process of phlebotomy is mention below –
 Exposure to bodily fluids – The exposure of bodily fluids is one of the common risk of
injuries that can occurs during the process of phlebotomy. There are different issues due
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to the needle sticks expose in phlebotomists to individual immunodeficiency virus, HIV
as well as hepatitis B or C. Due to this diseases can be transfer from one body to other
and may can lead to major infections.
 Allergic reactions – Patient can face the issues of allergic reaction due to the act of
phlebotomy process. The phlebotomists have to frequently or repeated exposure to latex
which is a rubber type of material can cause several type of allergic reaction. The arising
of this risk majorly depend on the body type and any issues to person. The allergies of
latex is common among different the health care provider.
 Physical injuries – Phlebotomy act can lead to physical injury to person and can harm
body (Thomas, Nelson and Silverman, 2015). Drawing of blood is a difficult process and
it can harm individual physically. This is in the case of children or combative adults
which can throw punches and kick that can cause injury to the phlebotomist.
 Back strain – Most of the phlebotomists have to stand up for the process of drawing
blood and it can lead to have pain on back. Standing for the long time will lead to fatigue
as well as back or neck strain and this is the issues during the process of phlebotomy.
 Dehydration – Patient may feel dehydration after the process of phlebotomy. This is due
to collection of blood form the body of patient and it can lead to increase in the issues of
less quantity of water. This is the main issues of dehydration and can affect the health of
individual.
 Low blood pressure – Low blood pressure can lead to major impact on health of a
person. Phlebotomy process increase the issues of low blood pressure and can cause
major damage to health and safety of patient.
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What are the effectiveness of safe practices in reducing risks and improving clinical
outcomes during phlebotomy.
As per the article of NCBI (2020), It has been analysed that there are various health issues
and problems that are associated with the phlebotomy act of drawing blood. This is consider as
the most command invasive procedure in health care practices. It is essential for health care
provider to determine the issues as we as focus on reducing risk. There are different benefits and
advantages that could be resolved by health care provider with the consideration of effectiveness
during the process of phlebotomy (Best practice in phlebotomy and blood collection, 2020). Safe
practices are very effective and useful for reducing the risk as well as assist improving clinical
outcomes during phlebotomy.
 Safe and secure practices – Effectiveness of reducing risk form the heath care practice
during phlebotomy process will assist in providing correct and safe practices to patient.
Reduction of risk will lead to increase the safety during phlebotomy process and patient
will be able to get more benefits from phlebotomy. It is important for the technician to
consider all safety measure as it will lead to improve the clinical practices.
 Providing proper care practices – With the reduction of risk as other issues that is
associated with phlebotomy process will help in providing better health care practices to
the needed person. This will help in increase the quality of a person to carry out
phlebotomy process as well as support in improve the care practices as well as
successfully accomplishing desired outcomes.
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 Avoiding accidents – There are different types of injury and accidents issues associated
with the practice of phlebotomy. The effectiveness of determining risk and reducing
different types of risk is very significant for avoiding accidents as well as overcome the
issues. This will help in successfully carry out required practices and enhancing health
care activities.
 Quality control – Reduction of risk as well as improvement in clinical outcomes will
lead to help in improving the quality control of the phlebotomy. Through this health care
provider will be able to control the quality of health practices as well as collect right
sample in order to successfully perform required set of task.
What are the ways of integrating and maintaining safe sharp practices in phlebotomy
procedure.
According to the views of NCBI, (2020), It is very important for health care provider to
consider correct and accurate way of conducting phlebotomy procedure in order to gain desired
outcomes. There are different ways of maintaining and integrating safe and sharp practices in
phlebotomy procedure which is mention below in detail.
 Planning ahead – This can be consider as the first and most important part for carry out
the procedure of phlebotomy (Ary and et.al., 2018). It is essential for health care provider
to consider the proper plan which will assist in correctly carry out different functions and
activities. Planning will help in determining the best and most effective approach to carry
out practices.
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 Using an appropriate location – It is crucial that Phlebotomist is working in clear and
right location so that all activities and task can be successfully perform (Best practice in
phlebotomy and blood collection, 2020). In order to maintain safe shape practices
Phlebotomist needs to work in clean, quite along with the well lit area so that they can
concentrate of practices as well as increase the quality of work performance.
 Quality control – The control over quality will assist in integrating and maintaining the
safe share practices in the procedure of Phlebotomy. It is important to prevent the
infection as well as control different practices as it will lead to help in minimizing the
changes of mishap.
 Standards for quality care patients and health workers – In order to provide safe
shape practices of Phlebotomist it is essential to consider the standards for quality care
patients and health worker in order to maintain the safety and effectiveness of the
practices.
Possible Methodology
Research methodology is known as one of the most significant part of every research project
as this clarify the approach and method in which research will be carried out. It helps in study all
set objectives and support in get a reliable outcome (Cooper, 2019). In brief, it can be
summarised as the procedure of gather information which is essential to draw outcomes of study.
Research methodology reflect all tools, methods and techniques which researcher use to carry
out investigation. It is very essential for researcher to be aware about the main purpose behind
carry out investigation as this help in select right tool and approach for the study and contribute
more in effectiveness of research. In context with present dissertation, it will be carried out by
applications of below research methodologies –
Research methods
This section of research project consists a plan that consists all the steps require to solve
research problems. This also consists the strategy adopt by investigator to implement research
activities. It involves various methods that can be adopt to achieve set objectives of research.
Major methods consist in this are survey, interview, focus group analysis, secondary analysis and
many more. Researcher choose method as per the type and purpose of investigation. Scientific
method is the one in which all individuals of project explore new data on particular topic, where
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in context with present report, as it will be made on importance of safe practices during
phlebotomy, therefore, qualitative research methods will be applied for the same.
Research approaches:
This section of methodology reflects the process that involves major steps of all
assumptions, methods of data collection and data analysis. This directly depends on the nature of
research problem which researcher wants to solve. Further, this support in develop questions that
required to be answer to draw final conclusion. Hence, it is basically depended on the nature of
research problem which is being comprises through many research methodologies (McCall,
2020). The role of research approach helps to researcher to mapped and evaluate overall findings
on the basis of research outcomes. As it also elaborates the process through which they can
develop their issues and objectives to optimise the whole study. This is the procedure of study
which allows the proper evaluation along with emerging questions that having data that gathered
in the perspective of respondent's setting and analyse and stimulate their data that would reform
form specific to general based theme. With respect to present research, deductive approach will
be applied on qualitative data for addressing mentioned aims and objectives, in given time
constraint.
Research Philosophies
Methods like ontology, epistemology and axiology helps researchers in deciding various
characteristics of research which will bring best outcome. Another important part that is included
here is explaining the actual point of view from the researcher's perspective. This also takes into
consideration the matter and data that have been gathered by other scholars in past (Cooper,
2019). So assumptions here are helping to determine the strategy and methods. Regarding with
present dissertation, as it is done on qualitative research techniques, for collecting information of
issues arise due to negligence of safe practices in phlebotomy process. Therefore, interpretivism
research approach will be applied by project members, for interpreting information more
specifically.
Data Collection
This is an important part in a research, that is mainly concerned with the way in which data is
required to carry on the research will be gathered. The ways in which the data will be analysed
and studied is also decided in these steps. There are various ways to carry it out. Primary data
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collection and secondary data collection are two ways in which data is collected for its
interpretation. Primary data collection is carried out in organisation by questionnaire or
feedbacks sometimes even direct interview is conducted (Orth and et. al., 2019). Whereas in
secondary data collection there are a number of sources such as newspapers, magazines, articles
earlier conducted researches that help the researcher to find some data and use it for their
research. There are also a number of government agencies who issue information which can be
used in reports by researchers. It is necessary for a researcher to understand benefits and
drawbacks of both of these sources of data so that they can effectively choose whichever source
is most suitable for the research they are conducting. In this regard, secondary data will be
collected by reviewing relevant articles and journal reports on chosen topic. Whilst, primary data
will be gathered by developing a self-questionnaire with medical representations. For this
purpose, 50 respondents will be taken as a sample to conduct primary research.
Potential methods, resources and timeline
For carrying out the present research, major activities are segmented as Introduction, Aims
& Objectives, Literature Review, Research Methodologies and more, where to complete each
Gantt Chart technique is used, that helps in framing each activity into a proper time-interval as
shown below -
Work breakdown structure – This can be describe as the tool for managing time and activities
of the research project. Work breakdown structure is significant for dividing large and complex
project into smaller parts so that all activities can be performed in correct and accurate manner
(Nieswiadomy and Bailey, 2018). Breaking of large work into small parts is consider as very
productive and useful technique for managing different task and operation of the project in
accurate manner. Work break down structure can be describe as the hierarchical tree structure
that consist of the outline of the process and classifying it into sub parts so that all project task
can be finish on right time.
Gantt Chart – Gantt chart can be describe as the bar chart structure which is significant for
completing all task and activities of the project in right set of time. This is an effective tool that
is developed by Henry Gantt. The tool is significant in showing the dependency of relationship
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of different activities and schedule status of the project (Bryman, 2016). Gantt chart will
represent the time duration with the starting time and end time of the project.
Questionnaire
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