Archives
Perceptions of Infection Control Practices Among Health Professionals
Rochelle E Watkins
Research Fellow, Division of Health Sciences, Curtin University of Technology, Perth WA
Dianne Wynaden
School of Nursing, Curtin University of Technology, Perth; Directorate of Mental Health, Fremantle Hospital and Health Service, WA
Linda Hart
Research Assistant, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University of Technology, Perth WA
Ian Landsborough
Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University of Technology, Perth WA
Sunita McGowan
Director, Nursing Research and Evaluation, Fremantle Hospital and Health Service; Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University of Technology, Perth WA
Gaye Speed
Nurse Consultant Clinical Improvement, Fremantle Hospital; Adjunct Senior Research Associate, Curtin University of Technology, Perth WA
Angélica Orb
Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University of Technology, Perth WA
Saras Henderson
School of Nursing, Curtin University of Technology, Perth WA
Sally Wilson
Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University of Technology, Perth WA
Wendy Calnan
Clinical Nurse Consultant Infection Control, Fremantle Hospital and Health Service, Fremantle WA
Abstract
Infection control practice is a cornerstone of modern health care. However, there is minimal research into health professionals' perception of infection control practices and how those perceptions influence staff compliance with recommended protocols.
The objective of this study was to explore health care professionals' perceptions of infection control practices in relation to the management of infectious diseases. A grounded theory approach was used as the research framework. Semi-structured interviews were completed with a sample of 16 nurses and doctors working at hospitals in Western Australia. Four major categories emerged from the data. These were: knowledge, culture, conflict, and risk assessment.
The findings indicate the importance of both individual and organisational factors in determining clinicians' levels of compliance with recommended infection control practices. Identification of the factors that influence health professionals' level of compliance can be used to develop strategies to support long-term compliance with infection control practices.
Keywords
infection control, health professionals, perceptions, compliance
References
Aiken LH, Sloane DM and Klocinski JL (1997) Hospital nurses' occupational exposure to blood: prospective, retrospective, and institutional reports, American Journal of Public Health 87(1): 103-107.
Angelillo IF, Mazziotta A and Nicotera G (1999) Nurses and hospital infection control: knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of Italian operating theatre staff, Journal of Hospital Infection 42(2): 105-112.
Cooke RA and Rousseau DM (1988) Behavioral norms and expectations: a quantitative approach to the assessment of organizational culture, Group Organizational Studies 13: 245-273.
Cutter J and Jordan S (2004) Uptake of guidelines to avoid and report exposure to blood and bodily fluids, Journal of Advanced Nursing 46(4): 441-452.
Drennan D (1992) Transforming Company Culture. London: McGraw-Hill.
Fauci AS (2006) Pandemic influenza threat and preparedness, Emerging Infectious Diseases 12(1): 73-77.
Farquharson C and Baguley K (2003) Responding to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak: lessons learned in a Toronto emergency department, Journal of Emergency Nursing 29(3): 222-228.
Glaser B and Strauss AL (1967) The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. New York: Aldine Publishing Company.
Gould D and Ream E (1994) Nurses' views of infection control: an interview study, Journal of Advanced Nursing 19: 1121-1131.
Houang ET and Hurley R (1997) Anonymous questionnaire survey on the knowledge and practices of hospital staff in infection control, Journal of Hospital Infection 35(4): 301-306.
Hutchinson S (2001) Grounded theory: The method. In Munhall PL (ed) Nursing research: A qualitative perspective pp.209-243, Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett.
Jenner EA, Mackintosh C and Scott GM (1999) Infection control - evidence into practice, Journal of Hospital Infection 42: 91-104.
Knight VM and Bodsworth NJ (1998) Perceptions and practice of universal blood and body fluid precautions by registered nurses at a major Sydney teaching hospital, Journal of Advanced Nursing 27(4): 746-751.
Larson E (2005) State-of-the-science-2004: Time for a 'No Excuses/No Tolerance' (NET) strategy, American Journal of Infection Control 33(9): 548-557.
Lymer UB and Richt B (2004) Blood exposure: factors promoting health care workers' compliance with guidelines in connection with risk, Journal of Clinical Nursing 13(5): 547-554.
Makins M, Issaacs A and Adams D (1991) Collins English Dictionary 3rd edn, Aylesbury: HarperCollins Publishers.
Miles M and Huberman A (1994) Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook 2nd edn, Beverly Hills, California: Sage.
Moore S, Goodwin H, Grossberg R and Toltzis P (1998) Compliance with universal precautions among pediatric residents, Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine 152(6): 554-557.
Morris M (2004) Commentary on Bennett G and Mansell I (2004) Universal precautions: a survey of community nurses experiences and practice, Journal of Clinical Nursing 13(8): 1017-1019.
Naikoba S and Hayward A (2001) The effectiveness of interventions aimed at increasing handwashing in healthcare workers - a systematic review, Journal of Hospital Infection 47(3): 173-180.
Stein PN (1994) Eroding grounded theory. In Morse JM (ed) Critical issues in qualitative research methods pp.213-223, London: Sage Publications.
Stein AD, Makarawo TP and Ahmad MFR (2003) A survey of doctors' and nurses' knowledge, attitudes and compliance with infection control guidelines in Birmingham teaching hospitals, Journal of Hospital Infection 54(1): 68-73.
Stone PW, Clarke SP, Cimiotti J and Correa-de-Araujo R (2004) Nurses' working conditions: implications for infectious disease, Emerging Infectious Diseases 10(11): 1984-1989.
Streubert Speziale HJ and Carpenter DN (2003) Qualitative research in nursing: Advancing the humanistic imperative 3rd edn. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins Company.
Wilson VJ, McCormack BG and Ives G (2005) Understanding the workplace culture of a special care nursery, Journal of Advanced Nursing 50(1): 27-38.
eContent Home