Mary Ann Jessee1, Lorraine C Mion. 1. Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. Electronic address: Mary.a.jessee@vanderbilt.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hospital-acquired infections are a major patient safety issue. We examined staff members' knowledge, attitudes, reported and observed adherence to guidelines, and perceptions of barriers to use of contact precautions. METHODS: A survey and nonparticipant observation study was used to examine knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and actual behavior of staff on 3 medical/surgical units at a 600-bed Magnet-designated academic medical center (MDAMC) and a 110-bed community medical center (CMC) in the southeastern United States. RESULTS: Correct knowledge answers ranged from 75% (CMC) to 100% (MDAMC). CMC participants were less likely to perceive time as a barrier (5% vs 25%; P = .050); more MDAMC participants were motivated by supervisors' recognition (87% vs 33%; P = .001). No statistically significant differences existed between groups on reported behaviors. Upon observation, fewer CMC participants demonstrated 4 of 5 evidence-based contact precaution behaviors compared with MDMC participants (P < .001). Hand hygiene before glove application was similarly low at both sites. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a decade of focus on improving patient safety, low adherence to evidence-based practice guidelines for implementation of contact precautions remains. Ongoing efforts are needed both at the system and practitioner level to improve practice adherence.
BACKGROUND: Hospital-acquired infections are a major patient safety issue. We examined staff members' knowledge, attitudes, reported and observed adherence to guidelines, and perceptions of barriers to use of contact precautions. METHODS: A survey and nonparticipant observation study was used to examine knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and actual behavior of staff on 3 medical/surgical units at a 600-bed Magnet-designated academic medical center (MDAMC) and a 110-bed community medical center (CMC) in the southeastern United States. RESULTS: Correct knowledge answers ranged from 75% (CMC) to 100% (MDAMC). CMC participants were less likely to perceive time as a barrier (5% vs 25%; P = .050); more MDAMC participants were motivated by supervisors' recognition (87% vs 33%; P = .001). No statistically significant differences existed between groups on reported behaviors. Upon observation, fewer CMC participants demonstrated 4 of 5 evidence-based contact precaution behaviors compared with MDMCparticipants (P < .001). Hand hygiene before glove application was similarly low at both sites. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a decade of focus on improving patient safety, low adherence to evidence-based practice guidelines for implementation of contact precautions remains. Ongoing efforts are needed both at the system and practitioner level to improve practice adherence.
Authors: S Buckrell; B L Coleman; S A McNeil; K Katz; M P Muller; A Simor; M Loeb; J Powis; S P Kuster; J M Di Bella; K K L Coleman; S J Drews; P Kohler; A McGeer Journal: J Hosp Infect Date: 2020-01-16 Impact factor: 3.926