Effect of Ventricular Assist Device Self-care Simulation-Based Mastery Learning on Driveline Exit Site Infections A Pilot Study

Background Ventricular assist device simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) results in better patient and caregiver self-care skills compared with usual training. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of SBML on driveline exit site infections. Methods We compared the probability of remaining infection free at 3 and 12 months between patients randomized to SBML or usual training. Results The SBML-training group had no infections at 3 months and 2 infections at 12 months, yielding a Kaplan-Meier estimate of the probability of remaining infection free of 0.857 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.692-1.00) at 12 months. The usual-training group had 6 infections at 3 months with no additional infections by 12 months. Kaplan-Meier estimates of remaining infection free at 3 and 12 months were 0.878 (95% CI, 0.758-1.00) and 0.748 (95% CI, 0.591-0.946), respectively. Time-to-infection distributions for SBML versus usual training showed a difference in 12-month infection rates of 0.109 (P = .07). Conclusions Ventricular assist device self-care SBML resulted in fewer 12-month infections.