The Weekend Effect on Evidence-Based Care Adherence Before and After Implementation of Checklist-Based Care in the Intensive Care Unit: A Multinational Study
Issued Date
2025-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
08850666
eISSN
15251489
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105022905436
Pubmed ID
41284657
Journal Title
Journal of Intensive Care Medicine
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Intensive Care Medicine (2025)
Suggested Citation
Tekin A., Swart P., Flurin L., Vukoja M., Kashyap R., Schultz M.J., Gajic O., Dong Y. The Weekend Effect on Evidence-Based Care Adherence Before and After Implementation of Checklist-Based Care in the Intensive Care Unit: A Multinational Study. Journal of Intensive Care Medicine (2025). doi:10.1177/08850666251396016 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/113397
Title
The Weekend Effect on Evidence-Based Care Adherence Before and After Implementation of Checklist-Based Care in the Intensive Care Unit: A Multinational Study
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Background: Adherence to evidence-based care processes and patient outcomes in intensive care units (ICUs) can be influenced by staffing and resource availability. We aimed to evaluate if there is a weekend effect on adherence to evidence-based care processes, and hospitalization outcomes and whether a checklist implementation could mitigate potential differences. Methods: Post hoc analysis of the Checklist for Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Illness and Injury (CERTAIN) study dataset collected before and after checklist implementation in 34 ICUs across 15 countries (2013-2017). Admission days were classified as ‘weekend/holidays’ or ‘weekdays’ according to local work schedules and public holidays. The primary outcome was the omission of 10 evidence-based care processes addressed in the checklist. Mortality and length of stay differences between weekend/holiday and weekday admissions were evaluated as secondary outcomes. Results: 4256 patients contributed 1141 weekend versus 3501 weekday observation days pre-intervention, and 2014 versus 6507 post-intervention. Pre-intervention, peptic ulcer prophylaxis was omitted more frequently on weekends/holidays than weekdays (adjusted rate ratio [aRR], 0.58 [95%–confidence interval [CI] 0.38-0.88), whereas head-of-bed elevation was omitted more often on weekdays than on weekends/holidays (aRR, 3.17 [1.14-8.86]). Post-intervention, peptic ulcer prophylaxis omission rates became similar (aRR, 1.03 [0.68-1.56], but head-of-bed elevation became omitted more often on weekends than on weekdays (aRR, 0.63 [0.45-0.88]). Post-intervention, oral care was omitted more frequently on weekends/holidays than in weekdays (aRR, 0.63 [0.45-0.9]), and central catheter removal was more frequent on weekdays than in weekends/holidays (aRR, 1.11 [1.02-1.21]). No significant differences in mortality or length of stay were found. Conclusion: A weekend effect influenced adherence to some care processes. While checklist implementation improved overall adherence, some disparities diminished, while new ones emerged. Organizational, cultural, and temporal factors should be further studied to optimize care delivery across all times and settings. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT01973829.