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Professor Claire Rickard2021-07-22T11:11:26+10:00

Project Description

Professor Claire Rickard

Claire Rickard- Research Mentor

As a Registered Nurse, Prof Rickard specialized in acute and critical hospital care, and then coordinated pharmaceutical and investigator-initiated ICU research at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. has held a variety of hospital and university based research positions and completed a PhD (QUT, 2004) on the impact of duration of intravascular administration set use on infection. Rickard established the Alliance for Vascular Access Teaching and Research (AVATAR) in 2007 as an investigator network to promote high quality work in this field. AVATAR predominantly undertakes large randomized controlled trials in partnership with hospitals in Australia, and has consistently won competitive funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) since 2008. Professor Rickard’s awards include induction into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame in 2013, and election to the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences in 2015. She has published over 200 journal articles including in The Lancet.

  • Peripheral and central venous catheters, and arterial catheters
  • Invasive medical devices of all types (e.g. IDCs, drains)
  • Device-related infections and other complications
  • Infection prevention and surveillance
  • Wound dressing and securements
  • Randomised controlled trials

Clinical Trials (last 2 years)

  • DART3: Difficult Access Requires Thought, Training and Technology. Australian considerations for sustainable implementation of ultrasound guided procedures for difficult peripheral intravenous catheter insertion.
  • I-DECIDED device assessment and decision tool. I-DECIDED® is the first comprehensive, evidence-based, valid and reliable vascular access device assessment and decision tool.
  • Peripherally inserted central catheter Innovation to reduCe Infections and Clots (the PICNIC trial)
  • The PISCES Trial: Improvements needed in catheter use with cancer patients. Improving the experience for cancer patients undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy or a blood transfusion.
  • Integrated versus nOn-integrated Peripheral inTravenous catheter. Which Is the most clinical and cost-effective systeM for peripheral intravenoUs catheter Management? (OPTIMUM Trial) The OPTIMUM Trial is a two-arm, multi-centre, randomised controlled trial of superior design comparing the clinical and cost-utility of two PIVC systems (integrated vs non-integrated) to prevent PIVC complications and failure.

2020 Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Quality Awards (QUARRIES) Recognising Remarkable Initiative

and Excellence in Service, Service Line Award. ‘How Many Audits Do You Really Need?’
2019 Menzies Health Institute Queensland Publication Quality Scheme, Excellence in Publication Award.

Alliance for Vascular Access for Dressings and securements for the prevention of peripheral intravenous failure in adults (SAVE): a pragmatic, randomised controlled, superiority trial (The Lancet, 2018).
2019 Vice Chancellor Research Excellence Award: Team of the Year, Griffith University: AVATAR
2019 Quality Awards Recognising Remarkable Initiative and Excellence in Service (Quarrie Award)

Service Line Award, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Advancement in RBWH Nursing Research. Understanding vascular access outcomes at the RBWH.
2019 Quality Awards Health Services and Implementation Research Award (Quarrie Award)

Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Improving vascular access outcomes among patients admitted to hospital, while minimising economic inefficiencies.

1.      Ullman AJ, Paterson RS, Schults JA, Kleidon TM, August D, O’Malley M, Horowitz J, Rickard CM, Pajee D, Chopra V. Do anti-microbial and anti-thrombogenic peripherally inserted central catheter materials prevent catheter complications? An analysis of 42,562 hospitalized medical patients. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology (Infectious Diseases Q1) 2021 Apr 28:1-8. doi: 10.1017/ice.2021.141

2.      Rickard CM, Marsh N, Larsen E, McGrail M, Graves N, Runnegar N, Webster J, Corley A, McMillan D, Gowardman J, Long D, Fraser J, Gill F, Young J, Murgo M, Alexandrou E, Choudhury N, Chan R, Gavin N, Daud A, Palermo A, Regli A, Playford EG. Effect of infusion set replacement intervals for infusion on catheter-related bloodstream infections (RSVP): a randomised, controlled, equivalence (central venous access device)-non inferiority (peripheral arterial catheter) trial. The Lancet. (Medicine Q1) April 2021; 397 (10283): 1447-1458.  doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00351-2

3.      Pather P, Schults J, Rickard CM, Ray-Barruel G. Point-of-care hand-held ultrasound for peripheral intravenous cannulation: A scoping review protocol.  Vascular Access. (Advanced and Specialized Nursing Q4) April 2021; 7(1):16-21. doi: 10.33235/va.7.1.16-21

4.      Nicholas M, Larsen E, Rickard CM, Mihala G, Groom P, Marsh N. Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) insertion success and optimal placement with new technology: a retrospective pre-post cohort study. Journal of the Association of Vascular Access. (Medicine Q3) April 2021; 26 (1): 39-46. doi.org/10.2309/JAVA-D-20-00030

5.      Larsen E, Marsh N, O’Brien C, Monteagle E, Friese C, Rickard CM. Inherent and modifiable risk factors for peripheral venous catheter failure during cancer treatment: a prospective cohort study. Supportive Care in Cancer. (Oncology Q2) Mar 2021;29(3):1487-1496. doi: 10.1007/s00520-020-05643-2.

6.      Marsh N, Larsen E, Hewer B, Monteagle E, Ware R, Schults J, Rickard CM. How many audits do you really need?: Learnings from 5-years of Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Audits. Infection, Disease and Health. March 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2021.03.001

7.      Takashima M, Cooke M, DeVries M, Kleidon TM, Alexandrou E, Chopra V, Rickard CM. An implementation framework for the clinically indicated removal policy for peripheral intravenous catheters. Journal of Nursing Care Quality. (Nursing Q1) April-June 2021 Volume 36, Issue 2:117-124. doi: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000507

8.      Kleidon T, Horowitz J, Rickard CM, Ullman A, Marsh N, Schults J, Ratz D, Chopra V. Peripherally inserted central catheter thrombosis following placement via electrocardiography vs traditional methods. American Journal of Medicine. (Medicine Q1) Feb 2021;134(2):e79-e88.  doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2020.06.010.

9.      Rickard CM, Flynn J, Larsen E, Mihala G, Playford EG, Shaw J, Keogh S, Ullman A, Zhang L, Gavin N, Kleidon N, Chopra V, McCarthy AL, Rocha PK, Marsh N. Needleless connector decontamination for prevention of central venous access device infection: a pilot randomised controlled trial. American Journal of Infection Control. (Health Policy Q1) Feb 2021;49(2):269-273. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.07.026

10.  Larsen E, Corley A, Mitchell M, Lye I, Powell M, Tom S, Mihala G, Ullman A, Gibson V, Marsh N, Kleidon T, Rapchuk I, Rickard CM. A pilot randomised controlled trial of dressing and securement methods to prevent arterial catheter failure in intensive care. Australian Critical Care. (Critical Care Nursing Q1) Jan 2021;34(1):38-46. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2020.05.004

11.  2020 

12.  Scott M, Bugden S, Hocking J, Mervin C, Rickard CM. Using willingness-to-pay to establish patient preferences for peripheral intravenous catheter securement in an Australian Emergency Department. Vascular Access. (Advanced & Specialised Nursing Q4). Oct 2020. 6(2). doi: 10.33235/va.6.2.6-8

13.  Gavin NC, Kleidon TM, Larsen E, O’Brien C, Ullman A, Northfield S, Mihala G, Runnegar N, Marsh N, Rickard CM. A comparison of hydrophobic polyurethane and polyurethane peripherally inserted central catheter: results from feasibility randomized controlled trial. Trials. (Medicine Q1) Sept 2020. doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04699-z.

14.  Schults J, Kleidon T, Cooke M, Ullman A, Marsh N, Ray-Barruel G, Rickard CM. International recommendations for a vascular access minimum data set: A Delphi consensus-building study. BMJ Quality and Safety. (Health Policy Q1) 2020 Sep 22:bmjqs-2020-011274. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2020-011274.

15.  Keogh S, Shelverton C, Flynn J, Mihala G, Matthew S, Davies K, Marsh N, Rickard CM.  Implementation and evaluation of peripheral intravascular catheter flushing guidelines: A stepped wedge cluster randomised trial. BMC Medicine. (Medicine Q1) 2020 Sep 30;18(1):252. doi: 10.1186/s12916-020-01728-1.

16.  Pires MP, Peterlini MA, Rickard CM, Pedreira ML. Effect of warming red blood cell concentrates on markers of hemolysis: an ex vivo simulation study. Australian Critical Care. (Critical Care Nursing Q1) 2020 Oct 14:S1036-7314(20)30295-2. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2020.08.003

17.  Marsh N, Webster J, Ullman A, Mihala G, Cooke M, Chopra V, Rickard CM. Peripheral intravenous catheter non-infectious complications in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing (Nursing Q1) Oct 2020.  doi: 10.1111/jan.14565

18.  Ullman A, Condon P, Edwards R, Gibson V, Takashima M, Schults J, Dean A, Cattanach P, Nicholls W, Osborne S, Rickard CM, Cooke M, Kleidon T.  Prevention of Occlusion of cEnTral lInes for Children with cancer (POETIC): an implementation study. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. (Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health Q2) Aug 2020. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15067

19.  Marsh N, Larsen M, Flynn J, O’Brien, Kleidon T, Groom P, Hewer B, Rickard CM. The MIDLINE Trial – Managing intravenous devices among patients with limited vascular access or prolonged therapy: a pilot randomised control trial protocol. Vascular Access. (Advanced & Specialised Nursing Q4) April 2020 doi.org/10.33235/va.6.1.20-24

20.  Marsh N, Larsen E, Webster J, Cooke M, Rickard CM. The benefit of a vascular access specialist placing a peripheral intravenous catheter: a narrative review of the literature. Vascular Access. (Advanced & Specialised Nursing Q4) April 2020. doi.org/10.33235/va.6.1.10-15

21.  Ullman AJ, Brown E, Kleidon T, Cooke M, Rickard CM, Bernstein S, Chopra V. Developing appropriateness criteria for pediatric vascular access. Pediatrics. (Pediatrics, Perinatology & Child Health Q1) June 2020. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-3474G.PMID: 32482737

22.  Ullman AJ, Bernstein S, Brown E, Aiyagari R, Doellman D, Faustino EVS, Gore B, Jacobs JP, Jaffray J, Kleidon T, Mahajan P, McBride CA, Morton K, Pitts S, Prentice E, Rivard D C, Shaughnessy E, Stranz M, Wolf J, Cooper D S, Cooke M, Rickard CM, Chopra V. The Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Intravenous Catheters in Pediatrics: miniMAGIC. Pediatrics. (Pediatrics, Perinatology & Child Health Q1) June 2020. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-3474I.PMID: 32482739

23.  Paterson RS, Chopra V, Brown E, Kleidon TM, Cooke M, Rickard CM, Bernstein S, Ullman AJ. Selection and Insertion of Vascular Access Devices in Pediatrics: A Systematic Review. Pediatrics. (Pediatrics, Perinatology & Child Health Q1) June 2020 doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-3474H.PMID: 32482738

24.  Høvik LH, Gjeilo KH, Lydersen S, Rickard CM, Rotvold B, Damas JK, Solligad E, Gustad LT. Correction to: Monitoring quality of care for peripheral Intravenous catheters; feasibility and reliability of the peripheral intravenous catheter mini questionnaire (PIVC-miniQ). BMC Health Services Research. (Health Policy Q1) May 2020. 20(1):422. Doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-05300-8.

25.  Larsen E, Byrnes J, Marsh N, Rickard CM. Patient-reported outcome and experience measures for peripheral venous catheters: A scoping review protocol. Vascular Access: Journal of the Canadian Vascular Access Association. (Advanced and Specialised Nursing Q4) April 2020. Vol 14, Issue 1 Spring 2020

26.  Larsen E, Corley A, Mitchell M, Lye I, Powell M, Tom S, Mihala G, Ullman A, Gibson B, Marsh N, Kleidon T, Rapchuk I, Rickard CM. A pilot randomised controlled trial: Dressing and securement methods to prevent arterial catheter failure in intensive care. Australian Critical Care. (Critical Care Nursing Q1) July 2020. doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2020.05.004

27.  Kleidon TM, Rickard CM, Gibson V, Mihala G, Schults J, Xu H, Bauer MJ, Marsh N, Larsen EN, Cattanach P, Ullman AJ. SMILE – Secure my intravenous line effectively: A pilot randomised controlled trial of peripheral intravenous catheter securement in pediatrics. Journal of Tissue Viability. (Dermatology Q1) Mar 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.jtv.2020.03.006

28.  Higgins M, Zhang L, Ford R, Brownlie J, Kleidon T, Rickard CM, Ullman A. The microbial biofilm composition on peripherally inserted central catheters: a comparison of standard and hydrophobic catheters collected from paediatric patients. Journal of Vascular Access. (Nephrology Q3) June 2020

29.  Ray-Barruel G, Cooke M, Mitchell M, Chopra V, Rickard CM.  The I-DECIDED clinical decision-making tool for peripheral intravenous catheter assessment and safe removal: a clinimetric evaluation. BMJ Open. (Medicine Q1) Jan 2020; 10(1): e035239. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035239.

30.  Schults J, Cooke M, Woods C, Rickard CM, Kleidon T, Ray-Barruel G, Marsh N. Healthcare practitioner perspectives and experiences regarding vascular access device data: An exploratory study. International Journal of Healthcare Management. (Health Policy Q3) doi:org/10.1080/20479700.2020.1721750

31.  Vendramin P, Avelar AFM, Rickard CM, Pedreira MDLG. The RESPECT trial: Replacement of peripheral intravenous catheters according to clinical reasons or every 96 hours: a randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies. (Nursing Q1) doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.103504

32.  Archer-Jones A, Sweeney A, Schults J, Rickard CM, Johnson L, Gunter A, Watkins S. Evaluating an ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous cannulation training program for emergency clinicians: An Australian perspective. Australasian Emergency Care. (Emergency Nursing Q1) Sept 2020 23(3)151-156. doi: 10.1016/j.auec.2019.12.008.

33.  Slater K, Cooke M, Fullerton F, Whitby M, Hay J, Lingard S, Douglas J, Rickard CM. Peripheral intravenous catheter needleless connector decontamination study—Randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Infection Control. (Health Policy Q1) Jan 2020; 48(9):1013-1018. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2019.11.030.

34.  Pearse. B, Keogh S, Rickard CM, Faulke DJ, Smith I, Wall D, McDonald C, Fung L.  Bleeding management practices of Australian cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists and perfusionists: a cross sectional national survey incorporating the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and COM-B model.  Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. (Medicine Q1) Jan 2020 13:27-41 doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S232888. eCollection 2020.PMID: 32021232

35.  Mitchell M, Ullman A, Takashima M, Davis C, Mihala G, Powell M, Gibson V, Zhang L, Bauer M, Playford G, Rickard CM. Central venous Access device SeCurement And Dressing Effectiveness: the CASCADE pilot randomised controlled trial. Australian Critical Care. (Critical Care Nursing Q1) Nov 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2019.10.002

36.  Corley A, Ullman A, Marsh N, Larsen N, Mihala G, Harris P, Rickard CM. SECUREment bundles to prevent Peripheral IntraVenous Catheter failure: the SECURE-PIVC trial. Study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Nursing. (Nursing Q3) Oct 2020. doi: 10.12968/bjon.2020.29.19.S40.

37.  Marsh N, Larsen E, Tapp S, Sommerville M, Mihala G, Rickard CM. Management of Hospital In The Home (HITH) Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters: a retrospective cohort study. Home Healthcare Management and Practice. Jan 2020; 32(1):34-39. Doi: 10.1177/1084822319873334

38.  Kleidon T, Rickard CM, Schultz J, Mihala G, McBride C, Rudkin J, Chaseling B, Ullman A.  Development of a paediatric central venous access device database: A retrospective cohort study of practice evolution and risk factors for device failure. Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health. 2020 Feb;56(2):289-297. doi.org/10.1111/jpc.14600

39.  Kleidon T, Keogh S, Flynn J, Schults J, Mihala G, Rickard CM. Flushing of peripheral intravenous catheters (FliP): a pilot, factorial randomised controlled trial of high versus low frequency and volume in paediatrics. Journal of Pediatrics. (Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health Q1). Jan 2020, 56(1) 22-29. doi:10.1111/jpc.14482

40.  Ullman A, Takashima M, Kleidon T, Ray-Barruel G, Alexandrou E, Rickard CM. Global pediatric peripheral intravenous catheter practice and performance: A secondary analysis of 4,206 catheters. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. (Pediatrics Q1) Jan 2020; 50: e18-e25. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2019.09.023

E: claire.rickard@health.qld.gov.au

P: 07 3346 5539

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