scholarly journals Infection Control Behavior at Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Study of a Web-Based Behavioral Intervention (Germ Defence)

10.2196/22197 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. e22197
Author(s):  
Ben Ainsworth ◽  
Sascha Miller ◽  
James Denison-Day ◽  
Beth Stuart ◽  
Julia Groot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Control Behavior ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
At Home

Background To control the COVID-19 pandemic, people should adopt protective behaviors at home (self-isolation, social distancing, putting shopping and packages aside, wearing face coverings, cleaning and disinfecting, and handwashing). There is currently limited support to help individuals conduct these behaviors. Objective This study aims to report current household infection control behaviors in the United Kingdom and examine how they might be improved. Methods This was a pragmatic cross-sectional observational study of anonymous participant data from Germ Defence between May 6-24, 2020. Germ Defence is an open-access fully automated website providing behavioral advice for infection control within households. A total of 28,285 users sought advice from four website pathways based on household status (advice to protect themselves generally, to protect others if the user was showing symptoms, to protect themselves if household members were showing symptoms, and to protect a household member who is at high risk). Users reported current infection control behaviors within the home and intentions to change these behaviors. Results Current behaviors varied across all infection control measures but were between sometimes (face covering: mean 1.61, SD 1.19; social distancing: mean 2.40, SD 1.22; isolating: mean 2.78, SD 1.29; putting packages and shopping aside: mean 2.75, SD 1.55) and quite often (cleaning and disinfecting: mean 3.17, SD 1.18), except for handwashing (very often: mean 4.00, SD 1.03). Behaviors were similar regardless of the website pathway used. After using Germ Defence, users recorded intentions to improve infection control behavior across all website pathways and for all behaviors (overall average infection control score mean difference 0.30, 95% CI 0.29-0.31). Conclusions Self-reported infection control behaviors other than handwashing are lower than is optimal for infection prevention, although handwashing is much higher. Advice using behavior change techniques in Germ Defence led to intentions to improve these behaviors. Promoting Germ Defence within national and local public health and primary care guidance could reduce COVID-19 transmission.

scholarly journals Current infection control behaviour patterns in the UK, and how they can be improved by ‘Germ Defence’: an observational study of an online behavioural intervention to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the home. (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Ainsworth ◽  
Sascha Miller ◽  
James Denison-Day ◽  
Beth Stuart ◽  
Julia Groot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Behavioural Intervention ◽  
Behaviour Change Techniques ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Current Infection ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Control Behaviour

BACKGROUND To control the COVID-19 pandemic, people should adopt protective behaviours at home (self-isolation, social distancing, putting shopping/packages aside, wearing face-covering, cleaning and disinfecting, handwashing). There is currently limited support to help individuals conduct these behaviours. OBJECTIVE We aimed to report current household infection control behaviours in the UK, and examine how they might be improved. METHODS This was a pragmatic, cross-sectional observational study of anonymous participant data from Germ Defence (https://germdefence.org/), a freely available website providing behavioural advice for infection control within households. 28,285 users sought advice from four website pathways based on household status (advice to protect themselves generally, to protect others if the user was showing symptoms, to protect themselves if household members were showing symptoms, and to protect a household member who is at high risk). Users reported current infection control behaviours within the home, and intentions to change these behaviours. RESULTS Current behaviours varied across all infection control measures but were between ‘sometimes’ and ‘quite often’, except handwashing (‘very often’). Behaviours were similar regardless of the website pathway used. After using Germ Defence, users recorded intentions to improve infection control behaviour across all website pathways and for all behaviours. CONCLUSIONS Self-reported infection control behaviours other than handwashing are lower than is optimal for infection prevention, although handwashing is much higher. Advice using behaviour change techniques in Germ Defence led to intentions to improve these behaviours. Promoting Germ Defence within national and local public health/primary care guidance could reduce COVID-19 transmission.

scholarly journals Estimating the consequences of a COVID-19 super spreader: A stochastic model of a night on the town

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110314
Author(s):  
Nils Henrik Kolnes ◽  
Snorre Nilsen Eikeland ◽  
Tor Albert Ersdal ◽  
Geir Sverre Braut
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Stochastic Model ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Local Municipality ◽  
The Town

A stochastic model estimated the consequences of a COVID-19 super spreader event occurring in the local municipality of Stavanger, Norway as a result of a night on the town. The model imposed different infection control regulations and compared these different scenarios. For Stavanger’s 161 locations of service, secondary transmissions from a super spreader event was estimated to infect a median of 37, requiring the quarantining of 200 guests given no infection control regulations, 23 and 167 when imposing social distancing regulations and other hygienic infection control measures, 7 infected and 63 quarantined guests with restrictions placed on the guest capacity, and 4 infected and 57 quarantined guests with both forms of restriction in use.

scholarly journals Content Analysis of the Free COVID-19 Telephone Consultations Available during the First Wave of the Pandemic in Japan

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1593
Author(s):  
Kyoko Yoshioka-Maeda ◽  
Yuka Sumikawa ◽  
Noriha Tanaka ◽  
Chikako Honda ◽  
Riho Iwasaki-Motegi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Telephone Consultation ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Consultation Services

This cross-sectional study aimed to (1) describe the unclassified contents of telephone consultation services provided by a public health center during the first wave of COVID-19 in Japan and (2) examine whether the contents required assistance from public health nurses (PHNs). We analyzed a total of 207 calls in which the purpose of the call was unclassified into pre-set categories. PHNs transcribed the exact text of the consultation conversations recorded from 25 March to 20 April 2020 in City A. Approximately half of the calls were from residents. Seven categories were extracted through a qualitative content analysis. The most common topic was infection control measures, where the presence of COVID-19 infection was assumed (n = 62); the second most common was extreme anxiety and fear of infection (n = 50). Questions about the COVID-19 response system (n = 30), discrimination and misunderstandings about COVID-19 (n = 24), and response measures for COVID-19 outbreaks within organizations (n = 18) were also included. The unclassified consultations included various topics, several of which required the expertise of a PHN. Each local government should consider sharing and task-shifting telephone consultation services among PHNs and other staff to reduce their burden and allow them to concentrate on conducting infection control more effectively.

scholarly journals Nurses’ Self-report on the Infection Control Unit Activities and their Experience in the Hospital toward Nosocomial Infections in the Sulaimani Hospitals

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-177
Author(s):  
Ramand Haji ◽  
◽  
Dana Abdilkarim ◽  
Salar Ali ◽  
Srwa Mohammad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Nosocomial Infections ◽  
Control Unit ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Spss Software

Background and objectives: Nurses can prevent the occurrence and transmission of noso-comial infections by following infection control measures such as wearing gloves and masks, using appropriate disinfection of skin and preventing accidental needle-stick inju-ries. This research aimed to evaluate the availability of hospital uniforms, personal protec-tive equipment, and infection control activities at hospitals in Sulaimani in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and to examine nurses’ experience of nosocomial infections. Methods and materials: A cross-sectional study was performed at 10 governmental hospi-tals during the period from 20th February to 28th September 2018. 525 nurses were se-lected as participants by a convenience sampling method. A self-administrated question-naire was used to collect data, which were analysed using SPSS software. Results: The results showed that 268 nurses (51%) reported that their hospitals provided sufficient uniforms to all the medical staff and the majority of nurses, 444 respondents (84.6%) stated that they were responsible for cleaning their working uniforms. 441 nurses reported that they did not acquire a nosocomial infection, and 479 (91.2%) did not have an accident during their work in the hospital. 79.9% of the nurses (404) reported recapping syringe needles after the usage, and 98 (18.7%) gave a low rating to the infection control unit activity in their hospitals. Finally, more than half of nurses (330) representing 62.9% of the sample were vaccinated against nosocomial infections. Conclusions: Most of Sulaimani governmental hospitals are providing sufficient uniforms for the health staff, the majority of nurses were vaccinated against one or more nosocomi-al infections, and the majority of nurses do needle syringe recapping.

Personal Healthcare Worker (HCW) and Work-Site Characteristics That Affect HCWs' Use of Respiratory-Infection Control Measures in Ambulatory Healthcare Settings

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne Turnberg ◽  
William Daniell ◽  
Terri Simpson ◽  
Jude Van Buren ◽  
Noah Seixas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Healthcare Worker ◽  
Respiratory Infection ◽  
Emergency Care ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Work Site ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Site Characteristics

Objectives.To identify healthcare worker (HCW) and work-site characteristics associated with HCWs' reported use of recommended respiratory-infection control practices in primary and emergency care settings.Design.A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire for HCWs during the summer and fall of 2005.Setting.Primary and emergency care clinics at 5 medical centers in King County, Seattle, Washington.Results.Nurse professionals who reported receiving training (odds ratio [OR], 2.5 [confidence interval {CI}, 1.1–5.9]; P = .029), instructional feedback from supervisors (OR, 3.0 [CI, 1.5–5.9]; P = .002), and management support for implementing safe work practices had a higher odds of also reporting adherence to recommended respiratory precautions, compared with nurses who did not. Training was the only important determinant for adherence to respiratory precaution measures among medical practitioners (OR, 5.5 [CI, 1.2–25.8]; P = .031). The reported rate of adherence to hand hygiene practices was higher among nurse professionals who were male (OR, 2.2 [CI, 1.0–4.9]; P = .045), had infants, small children, or older adults living at home (OR, 2.2 [CI, 1.2–3.9]; P = .007), reported cleanliness and orderliness of the establishment where they worked (OR, 2.0 [CI, 1.1–3.5]; P = .019), had received respiratory-infection control training (OR, 3.2 [CI, 1.8–6.0]; P<.001), and reported fears about catching a dangerous respiratory infection at work (OR, 2.3 [CI, 1.2–4.5]; P= .011).Conclusion.A number of HCW and work-site characteristics associated with HCWs' use of recommended respiratory-infection control measures have been identified. These potentially influential characteristics should be considered as targets or guides for further investigation, which should include the evaluation of intervention strategies.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Critical Care Simulations: An International Cross-sectional Survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad-Hani Temsah ◽  
Abdulkarim Alrabiaah ◽  
Ayman Al-Eyadhy ◽  
Fahad Al-Sohime ◽  
Abdullah Al Huzaimi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Team Leaders ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Patient Transport ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Better Than

Abstract Background: Many healthcare systems initiated rapid training with COVID-19 simulations for their healthcare workers (HCWs) to build surge capacity and optimize infection control measures. This study aimed to describe COVID-19 simulation drills in international healthcare centers. Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey among simulation team leaders and HCWs, based on each center's debriefing reports from simulation centers from 30 countries in all WHO regions where COVID-19 simulation drills were conducted. The primary outcome measures were the COVID-19 simulations' characteristics, outcomes, facilitators, obstacles, and challenges encountered during the simulation sessions. Results: Invitation was sent to 500 simulation team leaders and HCWs, and 343 responded. Those who completed the study comprised 121 participants: 62.8% females; 56.2% physicians; 41.3% from East Mediterranean (EMRO) countries; 25.6% from Southeast Asian countries (SERO); and 12.4% from Europe. The frequency of simulation sessions was monthly (27.1%), weekly (24.8%), twice weekly (19.8%), or daily (21.5%). Among participants, 55.6% reported the team's full engagement in the simulation sessions. The average session length was 30–60 minutes. The most commonly reported debriefing leaders were ICU staff, simulation lab staff, and E.R. facilitators, and the least common were infection control staff. A total of 80% reported "a lot" to "a great improvement" in terms of clinical preparedness after simulation sessions, and 70% were satisfied with the COVID-19 simulation sessions and thought they were better than expected. Most of the perceived issues reported were related to infection control measures, followed by team dynamics, logistics, and patient transport issues. Conclusion: Simulation centers team leaders and HCWs reported positive feedback on COVID-19 simulation sessions. The presence of multiprofessional personnel during drills is warranted. These drills are a valuable tool for rehearsing safe dynamics of HCWs on the frontline of COVID-19.Trial registration: Not applicable.

scholarly journals Knowledge, Perceptions, and Attitudes Regarding COVID-19 and Infection Control Measures Against it among Dental Students in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 479-486
Author(s):  
Tahani M. Alharbi ◽  
Afrah M. Alharbi ◽  
Rafal K. Khayyat ◽  
Jawaher B. Aldaadi ◽  
Ibtesam K. Afifi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Dental Students ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Dental Practice ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Perceptions And Attitudes ◽  
Increased Risk

Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly infectious disease caused by an RNA virus named SARS CoV2. The increased risk of infection by this virus among dental students necessitates updated knowledge and highlights their important role in preventing and controlling its transmission. Objective: This study aims to assess knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding COVID-19 and infection control measures among dental students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental students in different Saudi universities using an online self-administered questionnaire. It gathered data on students’ demographic information, knowledge of COVID-19 and infection control measures, risk perception and attitudes toward the disease, and their preparedness for treating infected patients. Results: A total of 327 dental students responded to the questionnaire. Of these students, 92.4% had received training in infection control in dental practice, but only 24.2% had attended training regarding COVID-19. The majority of students had adequate knowledge regarding the modes of transmission and the common symptoms of COVID-19, with statistically significant total mean knowledge scores among students in different academic years (p<0.05). A large percentage of the students (92.7%) agreed that the use of rubber dams or high-volume saliva ejectors could reduce the possibility of transmitting infection. However, 58.4% of the students disagreed that intraoral dental radiographs should be avoided to reduce the possibility of transmitting infection. Conclusion: Although knowledge of and risk perception concerning COVID-19 among students is good, additional training sessions integrating recent international guidelines for infection control are required to update their knowledge and achieve safe dental practice.

scholarly journals Community Pharmacy Response to Infection Control during COVID-19. A Cross-Sectional Survey.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Sum ◽  
Charmane Ow
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Pharmacy Practice ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Infection Control Measures

Background: Australia received its first case of coronavirus on 25 January 2020. Since then the demands of COVID-19 has presented unparalleled levels of strain on the public healthcare systems in the country. In this time of crisis, pharmacists and community pharmacy staff have modified work strategies according to the rapidly changing environment. With a delayed dissemination of resources and guidelines, pharmacist and pharmacies are practicing innovative infection control methods across Australia to protect their staff, patients and the community. This article seeks to explore the current activities undertaken by pharmacists in various community pharmacy settings across Australia in relation to the safety of the workplace environments for staff and patients. Information collected can help inform future decisions in pandemic preparation for pharmacies in response to similar health crisis now and in the future. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey study was conducted in Australia during the COVID-19 outbreak from 1st to 30th April 2020. The questionnaire addressed community pharmacist&rsquo;s awareness and response to infection and sanitation control. Results: A total of 137 pharmacists took part in the survey, with almost half (45.26%) belonging to the age group of 25 to 34 years. Community pharmacy formed the bulk (89.05%) of the respondent&rsquo;s primary place of practice. There was a good uptake of safety measures by pharmacists and their pharmacies to protect staff and patients. However the task of reassigning high health risk staff was not heavily practiced (34.31%). Regular cleaning took place in the pharmacy, but the use of gloves while cleaning was not practiced in 48.18% of respondents. In addition, only 46.72% of respondents reported observing script baskets being cleaned and disinfected. About one-third (37.96%) of pharmacists were aware of the two-step cleaning and disinfecting process, but only 18.98% of pharmacists reported observing or performing this sanitation procedure. More than half of surveyed pharmacists reported having difficulty keeping up with infection control changes and pharmacy practice guidelines during the pandemic. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the majority of pharmacists are not fully aware of the infection control measures needed in a community pharmacy setting. The influx of coronavirus updates has made it difficult for pharmacists to implement accurate procedures on some aspects of workplace hygiene, which may have led to some gaps in infection control measures. Pharmacists must aim to uphold their public health ambassador role and aim to keep up-to-date with professional guidance to provide the necessary infection control measures to ensure staff, patient and public health safety.

scholarly journals Infection control measures to prevent outbreaks of COVID-19 in Quebec hemodialysis units: a cross-sectional survey

CMAJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. E1232-E1241
Author(s):  
William Beaubien-Souligny ◽  
Annie-Claire Nadeau-Fredette ◽  
Marie-Noel Nguyen ◽  
Norka Rios ◽  
Marie-Line Caron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Infection Control Measures
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