- It constitutes one of the first international investigations specifically focused on understanding women's perceptions of peripheral venous catheter maintenance
A study conducted in the Vinalopó University Hospital He has been awarded the Prize for Best Monthly Scientific Article, corresponding to the month of June 2026, granted by the Official College of Nursing of Alicante, for the study “Maternal Perceptions and Utilization of Peripheral Intravenous Access in the Postpartum Period”, recently published in the international scientific journal Nursing for Women's Health.
The study, whose main researcher was David Monasor, a nurse in the Pediatrics Unit of the Vinalopó University Hospital, was developed in collaboration with nursing professionals from the Maternal-Child Hospitalization Unit of the center and with researchers from the University of Alicante.
The research analyzes the routine maintenance of peripheral venous catheters during the immediate postpartum period as a preventive measure against potential obstetric complications, a common practice in maternity wards worldwide. Although these devices allow for rapid intervention in emergencies, until now there has been little evidence regarding their actual use and their impact on women's experience during hospitalization.
After analyzing data from nearly 500 women who gave birth vaginally, the research team found that 91,5% of peripheral venous catheters were not used after delivery. However, more than seven out of ten participants would have preferred them to be removed sooner, six out of ten found them uncomfortable, and nearly 70% indicated that they hindered essential activities such as self-care, newborn care, and breastfeeding. Furthermore, the study showed that discomfort and the location of the device increased this interference with women's postpartum recovery.
These results challenge a widely established practice in many obstetric units and provide scientific evidence to advance towards more efficient, safe, and patient-centered care. As a result of this research, the Vinalopó University Hospital has developed and implemented a clinical decision algorithm that allows for the standardized early removal of peripheral venous catheters in low-risk postpartum women when their maintenance is no longer clinically justified.
According to David Monasor, “this recognition supports the research commitment of nursing professionals and demonstrates that questions arising from clinical practice can translate into real improvements for patients. Our goal is to generate evidence that allows us to review procedures and move towards safer, more humanized care focused on the needs of women during the postpartum period.”
Natalia Méndez, Pediatric Supervisor at the Vinalopó University Hospital, highlighted the team's involvement in the project: “This work reflects the commitment of the nursing professionals in the Maternal and Child Hospitalization units to research and the continuous improvement of care. The participation of virtually the entire team has been key to generating scientific evidence that will contribute to further progress in providing higher quality care for our patients and their families.”
