Sustained improvement in hospital cleaning associated with a novel education and culture change program for environmental services workers

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 1024-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena K. Martin ◽  
Elizabeth L. Salsgiver ◽  
Daniel A. Bernstein ◽  
Matthew S. Simon ◽  
William G. Greendyke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Culture Change ◽  
Acute Care Hospitals ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
Environmental Services ◽  
Audience Response ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Quasi Experimental

AbstractObjective:To sustainably improve cleaning of high-touch surfaces (HTSs) in acute-care hospitals using a multimodal approach to education, reduction of barriers to cleaning, and culture change for environmental services workers.Design:Prospective, quasi-experimental, before-and-after intervention study.Setting:The study was conducted in 2 academic acute-care hospitals, 2 community hospitals, and an academic pediatric and women’s hospital.Participants:Frontline environmental services workers.Intervention:A 5-module educational program, using principles of adult learning theory, was developed and presented to environmental services workers. Audience response system (ARS), videos, demonstrations, role playing, and graphics were used to illustrate concepts of and the rationale for infection prevention strategies. Topics included hand hygiene, isolation precautions, personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning protocols, and strategies to overcome barriers. Program evaluation included ARS questions, written evaluations, and objective assessments of occupied patient room cleaning. Changes in hospital-onset C. difficile infection (CDI) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) bacteremia were evaluated.Results:On average, 357 environmental service workers participated in each module. Most (93%) rated the presentations as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ and agreed that they were useful (95%), reported that they were more comfortable donning/doffing PPE (91%) and performing hand hygiene (96%) and better understood the importance of disinfecting HTSs (96%) after the program. The frequency of cleaning individual HTSs in occupied rooms increased from 26% to 62% (P < .001) following the intervention. Improvement was sustained 1-year post intervention (P < .001). A significant decrease in CDI was associated with the program.Conclusion:A novel program that addressed environmental services workers’ knowledge gaps, challenges, and barriers was well received and appeared to result in learning, behavior change, and sustained improvements in cleaning.

Improving Cleaning of the Environment Surrounding Patients in 36 Acute Care Hospitals

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1035-1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip C. Carling ◽  
Michael M. Parry ◽  
Mark E. Rupp ◽  
John L. Po ◽  
Brian Dick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
Performance Feedback ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Acute Care Hospitals ◽  
The United States ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Environmental Services ◽  
Environmental Surfaces ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Quasi Experimental

Objective.The prevalence of serious infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens transmitted in the hospital setting has reached alarming levels, despite intensified interventions. In the context of mandates that hospitals ensure compliance with disinfection procedures of surfaces in the environment surrounding the patient, we implemented a multihospital project to both evaluate and improve current cleaning practices.Design.Prospective quasi-experimental, before-after, study.Setting.Thirty-six acute care hospitals in the United States ranging in size from 25 to 721 beds.Methods.We used a fluorescent targeting method to objectively evaluate the thoroughness of terminal room disinfection cleaning before and after structured educational and procedural interventions.Results.Of 20,646 standardized environmental surfaces (14 types of objects), only 9,910 (48%) were cleaned at baseline (95% confidence interval, 43.4-51.8). Thoroughness of cleaning at baseline correlated only with hospital expenditures for environmental services personnel (P = .02). After implementation of interventions and provision of objective performance feedback to the environmental services staff, it was determined that 7,287 (77%) of 9,464 standardized environmental surfaces were cleaned (P < .001). Improvement was unrelated to any demographic, fiscal, or staffing parameter but was related to the degree to which cleaning was suboptimal at baseline (P < .001).Conclusions.Significant improvements in disinfection cleaning can be achieved in most hospitals, without a substantial added fiscal commitment, by the use of a structured approach that incorporates a simple, highly objective surface targeting method, repeated performance feedback to environmental services personnel, and administrative interventions. However, administrative leadership and institutional flexibility are necessary to achieve success, and sustainability requires an ongoing programmatic commitment from each institution.

scholarly journals Installation of pedal-operated alcohol gel dispensers with behavioral nudges and changes in hand hygiene behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: a hospital-based quasi-experimental study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wit Wichaidit ◽  
Sommanas Naknual ◽  
Nanta Kleangkert ◽  
Tippawan Liabsuetrakul
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
P Value ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Observation Area ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Quasi Experimental

We conducted a quasi-experimental study and compared hand hygiene behaviors at potential pathogen transmission events among outpatient visitors (according to structured observations a trained enumerator) before and after installation of 12 pedal-operated alcohol gel dispensers with behavioral nudges (signs attached to the dispensers) at a tertiary hospital in southern Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic. The enumerator observed 243 events during the pre-intervention period and 223 events during the post-intervention period. Prevalence of hand hygiene was significantly different between the pre-intervention and post-intervention periods (0 vs 24 events, or 0% vs 11%, respectively; p-value <0.001). However, 21 of 24 hand hygiene events were of participants who came from outside the observation area, used the dispensers, then left. Nonetheless, the intervention might have helped to increase access to hand hygiene materials and created opportunities for hand hygiene among hospital visitors in general.

scholarly journals Promotion of Early and Exclusive Breastfeeding in Neonatal Care Units in Rural Rwanda: a Quasi-experimental Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saidath Gato ◽  
Francois Biziyaremye ◽  
Catherine M. Kirk ◽  
Chiquita Palha De Sousa ◽  
Alain Mukuralinda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽  
Child Survival ◽  
Neonatal Care ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Evidenced Based ◽  
Additional Support

Abstract Background: Early initiation of breastfeeding after birth and ongoing exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months improves child survival, nutrition and health outcomes. However, only 42% of newborns worldwide are breastfed within the first hour of life. Small and sick newborns are at greater risk of not receiving breastmilk and often require additional support for feeding. This study compares breastfeeding practices in Rwandan neonatal care units (NCUs) before and after the implementation of a package of interventions aimed to improve breastfeeding, aligned with the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative for small and sick newborns.Methods: A pre-post quasi experimental study was conducted at two District hospital NCUs in rural Rwanda from October 2017–December 2017 (pre-intervention) and September 2018–March 2019 (post-intervention). Only newborns admitted before their second day of life (DOL) were included. Data was extracted from patient charts for clinical and demographic characteristics, feeding throughout admission, and patient outcomes. Bivariate analyses were conducted using Fisher’s exact and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding at discharge following a backwards stepwise procedure.Results: Pre-intervention, 255 newborns were admitted in the NCUs and 793 were admitted in the post-intervention period. The percentage of infants who were exclusively breastfed on their day of birth, or day-of-life zero (DOL0) increased from 5.4% to 35.9% (p<0.001). For newborns discharged alive, the proportion exclusively breastfeeding increased from 69.6% to 87.0% (p<0.001). The mortality rate for all admitted newborns decreased from 16.1% to 10.5% (p<0.019). Factors associated with greater odds of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge included post-intervention time point (Odds Ratio (OR): 4.91, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.99-12.11, p<0.001), and admission for infection (OR 2.99, 95%CI 1.13-7.93, p=0.027). Home deliveries (OR 0.15, 95%CI 0.05-0.47, p=0.001), preterm delivery (OR 0.36, 95%CI 0.15-0.87, p=0.0260 and delayed first breastmilk feed (OR=0.04 for DOL3 vs. DOL0, 95%CI 0.01, 0.35, p=0.004) reduced odds of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge. Conclusion: Expansion and adoption of evidenced-based guidelines, using innovative approaches, aimed at the unique needs of small and sick newborns should be expanded and adapted in similar settings to improve outcomes for these infants.

Do Flexible Silicone Tubes Immersed in Water Combined With Vocalise Improve the Immediate Effect on Voice?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Nathália Suellen Valeriano Cardoso ◽  
Jonia Alves Lucena ◽  
Zulina Souza de Lira ◽  
Silvio José de Vasconcelos ◽  
Leonardo Wanderley Lopes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Measurements ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Silicone Tube ◽  
Maximum Phonation Time ◽  
Range Profile ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Vocal Effort ◽  
Cepstral Peak Prominence ◽  
Voice Range

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the immediate effect on a singer's voice of a flexible silicone tube immersed in water combined with ascending and descending vocalise scales compared with ascending and descending vocalise scales alone. Method: A pre- and post-intervention quasi-experimental study was conducted. Thirty adult singers between 18 and 45 years old with no laryngeal disorders performed the two techniques for 3 min each on different days. Acoustic measurements of frequency, jitter, shimmer, glottal-to-noise excitation ratio, noise, smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS), maximum phonation time (MPT), voice range profile, and self-perceived vocal effort (Borg Category Ratio 10-BR Scale adapted for vocal effort) were assessed before and after performing the techniques. Results: The results indicated an increase in singers' CPPS and MPT values and a decrease in shimmer and noise when performing with a flexible silicone tube immersed in water combined with vocalise. The singers reported a perception of decreased vocal effort after both methods. However, the diminished perceived vocal effort became more pronounced with the tube phonation technique combined with vocalise. Conclusions: Phonation in tubes combined with vocalise improved the vocal acoustic parameters (including cepstral measurements), increased MPT, and diminished perceived vocal effort. Although using vocalise alone diminished perceived vocal effort, this decrease was more pronounced in the tube phonation technique combined with vocalise.

scholarly journals Clostridium DifficileInfection in Acute Care Hospitals: Systematic Review and Best Practices for Prevention

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 476-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene K. Louh ◽  
William G. Greendyke ◽  
Emilia A. Hermann ◽  
Karina W. Davidson ◽  
Louise Falzon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Acute Care Hospitals ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Chlorhexidine Bathing ◽  
The Impact

OBJECTIVEPrevention ofClostridium difficileinfection (CDI) in acute-care hospitals is a priority for hospitals and clinicians. We performed a qualitative systematic review to update the evidence on interventions to prevent CDI published since 2009.DESIGNWe searched Ovid, MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, the ISI Web of Knowledge, and grey literature databases from January 1, 2009 to August 1, 2015.SETTINGWe included studies performed in acute-care hospitals.PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTSWe included studies conducted on hospitalized patients that investigated the impact of specific interventions on CDI rates.INTERVENTIONSWe used the QI-Minimum Quality Criteria Set (QI-MQCS) to assess the quality of included studies. Interventions were grouped thematically: environmental disinfection, antimicrobial stewardship, hand hygiene, chlorhexidine bathing, probiotics, bundled approaches, and others. A meta-analysis was performed when possible.RESULTSOf 3,236 articles screened, 261 met the criteria for full-text review and 46 studies were ultimately included. The average quality rating was 82% according to the QI-MQCS. The most effective interventions, resulting in a 45% to 85% reduction in CDI, included daily to twice daily disinfection of high-touch surfaces (including bed rails) and terminal cleaning of patient rooms with chlorine-based products. Bundled interventions and antimicrobial stewardship showed promise for reducing CDI rates. Chlorhexidine bathing and intensified hand-hygiene practices were not effective for reducing CDI rates.CONCLUSIONSDaily and terminal cleaning of patient rooms using chlorine-based products were most effective in reducing CDI rates in hospitals. Further studies are needed to identify the components of bundled interventions that reduce CDI rates.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2017;38:476–482

scholarly journals Impact of Replacing Powdered Gloves With Powder-free Gloves on Hand-hygiene Compliance Among Healthcare Workers of an Intensive Care Unit: a Quasi-experimental Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayra Gonçalves Menegueti ◽  
Fernando Bellissimo-Rodrigues ◽  
Marcia A. Ciol ◽  
Maria Auxiliadora-Martins ◽  
Anibal Basile-Filho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Experimental Study ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Hand Hygiene Compliance ◽  
Latex Gloves ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Hygiene Compliance ◽  
Powdered Latex Gloves

Abstract Background/Objective. After wearing powdered gloves, healthcare workers (HCW) are supposed to wash their hands instead of using alcohol-based hand-rub (ABHR). Washing hands takes longer than using ABHR, and the use of powdered gloves may be an obstacle to hand-hygiene compliance. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of replacing powdered gloves with powder-free gloves on hand-hygiene compliance among HCW of an intensive care unit (ICU). Methods. A quasi-experimental study was conducted in a general ICU of a tertiary care university hospital in Brazil. From June 1st to July 15th, 2017, all HCW were provided with powdered latex gloves only for all clinical procedures. From July 15th to August 31st, 2017, HCW were provided with nitrile powder-free gloves only. Hand-hygiene compliance was assessed through direct observation, and evaluated according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Hand Hygiene guidelines. We calculated that a sample size of 544 hand hygiene opportunities needed to be observed per period. Data analysis were performed using the STATA SE® version 14, and we compared the individual’s percentage of compliance using the t test for paired data before and after the intervention.Results. Overall, 40 HCW were assessed before and after the introduction of nitrile powder-free gloves, with 1114 and 1139 observations of hand hygiene opportunities, respectively. The proportion of compliance with hand hygiene was 55% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 51-59%) using powdered latex gloves and 60% (95% CI: 57-63%) using powder-free gloves. The difference in proportions between the two types of gloves was 5.1% (95% CI: 2.5-7.6%, p<0.001).Conclusion. Our data indicate that replacing powdered gloves with powder-free gloves positively influenced hand-hygiene compliance by HCW in an ICU setting.

scholarly journals Effect of Installation of Alcohol Gel Dispensers and Behavioral Nudges on Behavioral Drivers for Hand Hygiene: A Quasi-Experimental Study at a Tertiary Hospital during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sommanas Naknual ◽  
Nanta Kliangkird ◽  
Tippawan Liabsuetrakul ◽  
Wit Wichaidit
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Health Beliefs ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Health Belief ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Intervention Phase ◽  
Refusal Rate ◽  
Quasi Experimental

Objective: To compare the level of hand hygiene behavioral drivers before and after installation of alcohol gel dispensers and behavioral nudges among outpatients and visitors at a tertiary hospital in Thailand during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Material and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among outpatients and visitors in June 2020. We installed 12 alcohol gel dispensers with signs serving as behavioral nudges at a tertiary hospital in the Internal Medicine Outpatient Department (OPD), Surgery OPD, and the Pharmacy. We trained enumerators to interview outpatients and visitors regarding their behavioral drivers (beliefs about COVID-19 and hand hygiene based on the health belief model, plus handwashing social norms). We analyzed data using descriptive statistics.Results: Enumerators recruited 206 participants in the pre-intervention phase (refusal rate = 37.6%) and 219 participants in the post-intervention phase (refusal rate = 32.2%). There were significant differences between the pre-intervention and post-intervention phases with regard to self-efficacy for hand hygiene (92.0% vs. 100%, respectively), perceived lack of barriers to hand hygiene with alcohol (93.2% vs. 98.2%, respectively), and the proportion of participants who reported that hand hygiene had become a habit (7.5 vs. 18.8%, respectively). Reports of other domains of health beliefs (perceived severity of COVID-19, perceived benefits of handwashing) were homogeneous in both periods.Conclusion: We found differences in perceived lack of barriers and reported habit of hand hygiene but while self-efficacy was homogeneous in both periods. Issues regarding selection bias, construct validity, and generalizability may limit the usefulness of the study data. Caveats should be considered in the interpretation of the study findings.

scholarly journals A low-cost intervention to promote immediate skin-to-skin contact and improve temperature regulation in Northern Uganda

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Nissen ◽  
Kristin Svensson ◽  
Scovia Mbalinda ◽  
Kajsa Brimdyr ◽  
Peter Waiswa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Skin Contact ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Skin To Skin ◽  
Post Intervention Group

Background Uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact between mothers and newborns during the first hour after birth has been reported to be 2% in Uganda. Aims To investigate if a low-cost intervention targeting the behaviors of hospital staff would increase skin-to-skin contact and to investigate whether skin-to-skin contact stabilised temperature in the newborn. Methods The study had a quasi-experimental, before and after design. The sample included 110 in the pre-intervention group, and 93 in the post-intervention group. Data collection included observations of skin-to-skin contact and temperature measurements. Data were also collected from medical records and interviews. Findings No infants had skin-to-skin contact before the intervention, whereas the proportion was 54.8% after the intervention. Infants who received skin-to-skin contact (n=51) and infants who did not receive skin-to-skin contact (n=146) increased in temperature; however, infants who received skin-to-skin contact were significantly warmer after 5 minutes and remained so at 60 minutes. Conclusions The intervention increased the practice of skin-to-skin contact, which was found to be safe in regard to temperature stabilisation.

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