Stefan Bushuven1, Jana Juenger2, Andreas Moeltner3, Markus Dettenkofer4. 1. Institute for Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Pain Therapy, Hegau-Bodensee-Hospital Singen, Singen, Germany; Institute for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Control, Health Care Association District of Constance, Germany. Electronic address: s.bushuven@gmx.de. 2. Institute for Medical and Pharmaceutical Examinations, Mainz, Germany. 3. Centre of Excellence for Assessment in Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany. 4. Institute for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Control, Health Care Association District of Constance, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Infection control partially depends on hygiene and communication skills. Unfortunately, motivation for continuous training is lower than desired. Many health care providers (HCPs) do not recognize the need for training but express this need for others. This is attributable to heuristic errors, such as the overconfidence effect. The aim of this study was to quantify the flawed self-assessment in infection-control. METHODS: In this cross-sectional multicenter study, 255 HCPs of different specialties participated in the 29-item, 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, assessing perceived proficiency in hand hygiene and communication skills for both themselves and others (colleagues, trainees, and supervisors of their own specialty and HCPs of others). RESULTS: 222 of 255 surveys could be analyzed. Respondents rated themselves to be better trained in handhygiene (P < .001) than trainees, colleagues, and supervisors; the same was seen for feedback skills (P < .001). HCPs of other specialties were consistently rated worse in all aspects (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Results show an overplacement effect in infection prevention skills. The belief of being well educated creates a subjective conviction that no further education in hand hygiene is needed. Thus, HCPs may face motivation barriers that require specialized programs to overcome these beliefs.
BACKGROUND: Infection control partially depends on hygiene and communication skills. Unfortunately, motivation for continuous training is lower than desired. Many health care providers (HCPs) do not recognize the need for training but express this need for others. This is attributable to heuristic errors, such as the overconfidence effect. The aim of this study was to quantify the flawed self-assessment in infection-control. METHODS: In this cross-sectional multicenter study, 255 HCPs of different specialties participated in the 29-item, 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, assessing perceived proficiency in hand hygiene and communication skills for both themselves and others (colleagues, trainees, and supervisors of their own specialty and HCPs of others). RESULTS: 222 of 255 surveys could be analyzed. Respondents rated themselves to be better trained in handhygiene (P < .001) than trainees, colleagues, and supervisors; the same was seen for feedback skills (P < .001). HCPs of other specialties were consistently rated worse in all aspects (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Results show an overplacement effect in infection prevention skills. The belief of being well educated creates a subjective conviction that no further education in hand hygiene is needed. Thus, HCPs may face motivation barriers that require specialized programs to overcome these beliefs.
Authors: Ivonne Tomsic; Ella Ebadi; Frank Gossé; Ina Hartlep; Pamela Schipper; Christian Krauth; Bettina Schock; Iris F Chaberny; Thomas von Lengerke Journal: Antimicrob Resist Infect Control Date: 2021-04-07 Impact factor: 4.887
Authors: Paul Thurman; Eileen Zhuang; Hegang H Chen; Caitlin McClain; Margaret Sietsema; Rohan Fernando; Melissa A McDiarmid; Stella E Hines Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2022-06-14 Impact factor: 2.306