Anat Gesser-Edelsburg1, Mina Zemach2, Ricky Cohen3, Asher Salmon4, Lior Lowenstein5, Dan Shteinberg6. 1. School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; The Health and Risk Communication Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: ageser@univ.haifa.ac.il. 2. Midgam Consulting & Research Ltd, Bnei Brak, Israel. 3. School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel. 4. Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. 5. Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel. 6. Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Most of the studies on hospital infections have focused on the perceptions and reported behavior of the medical personnel. This research explore the practices undertaken both by Israeli patients and visitors, in order to maintain a hygienic hospital environment, and to locate the variables that are associated with them. METHODS: An online survey of national representative sample of Israeli hospital's visitors and patients adult population, who were hospitalized in the five years before the interview (n=209), and who visited patients in hospitals in the three years before the interview (n=454). RESULTS: Only a minority of patients (24%) comment to medical personnel about maintaining hygiene, while a majority (67%-69%) took active steps to maintain a hygienic environment. The main variables that were found to be associated with patients' making comments were level of religiousness and gender, whereas priorities, namely whether hospital infections were a high priority, and the frequency of the patient's visits to hospital outpatient clinics, were associated with self-initiated action. CONCLUSIONS: In order to reduce barriers to commenting to hospital personnel, we propose framing the subject of hospital hygiene as a matter of health literacy and a subject of public discourse, rather than a sole medical issue.
BACKGROUND: Most of the studies on hospital infections have focused on the perceptions and reported behavior of the medical personnel. This research explore the practices undertaken both by Israeli patients and visitors, in order to maintain a hygienic hospital environment, and to locate the variables that are associated with them. METHODS: An online survey of national representative sample of Israeli hospital's visitors and patients adult population, who were hospitalized in the five years before the interview (n=209), and who visited patients in hospitals in the three years before the interview (n=454). RESULTS: Only a minority of patients (24%) comment to medical personnel about maintaining hygiene, while a majority (67%-69%) took active steps to maintain a hygienic environment. The main variables that were found to be associated with patients' making comments were level of religiousness and gender, whereas priorities, namely whether hospital infections were a high priority, and the frequency of the patient's visits to hospital outpatient clinics, were associated with self-initiated action. CONCLUSIONS: In order to reduce barriers to commenting to hospital personnel, we propose framing the subject of hospital hygiene as a matter of health literacy and a subject of public discourse, rather than a sole medical issue.