education and training as a strategy to enhance hand

     education and training as a strategy to enhance hand

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Introduction of education and training as a strategy to enhance hand hygiene compliance in an acute inpatient hospital

1. Introduction:

Patients and hospital staff during the stay at the hospital may associate with some of the infections which can be described as healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). These infections result in a prolonged stay of patients at the hospital, increased mortality rate, and financial burden as well (Pittet et al., 1994; Lusardi, 2007; Mortell, 2012; Kilpatrick et al., 2012; Aziz, 2013). Therefore, proper monitoring and avoidance must be a primary concern of healthcare bodies that are responsible for making public health safety (World Health Organisation (WHO), 2009a). HCAIs are worsening threats throughout the world as more than 1.4 million patients in hospitals are at risk of gaining these infections in one year (Pittet and Donaldson, 2006). It has been estimated in the USA that 4% to 10% of patients are acquiring HCAIs (Hidron et al., 2008). It has been reported in the USA that mortality rate due to HCAIs is 90,000 annually (Klevens et al., 2007) and in one year $28-$34 billion are being spent by healthcare authorities (Scott, 2009). In European studies, the HCAI rate is 4.6% to 9.3% and in one year, five million infections are expected to occur which represents €13-€24 billion spending for these infections annually (WHO, 2009a). In the UK, National Health Service (NHS) is posing a £1 billion economic burden for HCAIs per year (Inweregbu et al., 2005; National Audit Office (NAO), 2009; Durlach et al., 2012). In Ireland, a 5.2% morbidity rate has been reported because of HCAIs (Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), 2012) and 25,000 patients acquire these infections annually posing €11.8 million financial burdens (Health Service Executive (HSE), 2011). Although all HCAIs cannot be avoided, almost 50% of infections can be prevented by following hygienic measures (Pittet et al., 2000; WHO, 2009a). The present study focuses on education and training of hand hygiene.

1.1 Basis for the Recommended Change:

The increased spread of HCAIs has become a leading concern for healthcare authorities. The Strategy for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance in Ireland (SARI) (HPSC, 2005) has described that hand hygiene is a significant determinant for facilitating the occurrence of infections. This strategy focuses on the delivery of educating and training sessions regarding hand hygiene and establishing the setup which ensures hand hygiene practices. WHO (2009a), in its Multimodal Hand Hygiene Improvement Strategy, particularly emphasizes to enhance the importance of hand hygiene. HSE authorized this strategy in September 2013 for execution. My personal perception based on my experience in management, challenging the improvements of hand hygiene practices is an appropriate method. I used to work in different areas of the hospital including operation theatre, medical/surgical wards, endoscopy, and administration of nursing and infection control as well. My previous work experience authorized me through my proficient power base. Moreover, I can work as a hospital services manager by employing legitimate power in my new role. The implementation of these power bases augments my leadership role in the project because both leadership as well as power are important determinants to influence the public (Robbins and Judge, 2012). At a workplace trust in change, a leader is critical to employees or staff (Smollan, 2013). Changes at organizations are responsible for alteration in professional relationships depending on the employee’s perception; for instance, whether they would consider the change in a positive way or as a threat to influence organizational justice (Lewicki et al., 2006). As a change agent, it is obvious to me that I should use my previous medical and managing capability to produce assurance to this project given.

1.2 Organizational Setting:

The organization in which I worked as an employee offers secondary healthcare facilities to a population of almost 220,000 individuals. In this hospital, the number of patients and staff complement is almost 156,000 and 770 respectively annually. Due to continuous interaction between patients and staff at healthcare institutions, there is a continuous threat of infection transmission….