Background: Phlebitis is the most frequent complication associated with the use of peripheral venous catheters (PVCs). Nurses are responsible for the adequate introduction, maintenance, and removal of PVCs. Therefore, nursing teams need reliable and valid tools to prevent phlebitis and other complications with the use of PVCs. The Visual Infusion Phlebitis (VIP) score is the principal tool recognized by the international scientific community used for this purpose. This scale evaluated the presence of phlebitis through the observation and classification of six symptoms: pain, edema, erythema, induration, palpable venous cord, and venous thrombosis. The use of assessment tools inserted in Health Information Systems (HIS) has potential benefits, namely in terms of organizational efficiency, improved communication, improved quality of care and patient safety.

Aim and Method: This study aimed to create a proposal for the inclusion of the VIP PT-PT (European Portuguese version) in a HIS to assess the presence of phlebitis in patients with a PVC. A quantitative research methodology was used where inter-observer reliability studies of the scale were performed. Later, use cases and activity diagrams were created in UML (Unified Modeling Language). All ethical requirements were fulfilled.

Findings: Results demonstrate that the VIP PT-PT scale is a reliable tool to be applied in the context of Portuguese healthcare. A proposal was developed in UML that allows the implementation of this scale in the most used HIS in Portugal (SClínico), which can improve the monitoring of the PVC catheterization site and continuity of care by health professionals.

Ventura, D., DaSilva Freitas, J., & Simoes, J. (2023). Inclusion of the European Portuguese version of the visual infusion phlebitis scale in a health information system. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics (OJNI), 26(3).