scholarly journals Improving standards of aseptic practice through an ANTT trust-wide implementation process: a matter of prioritisation and care

2009 ◽  
Vol 10 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. S18-S23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Rowley ◽  
Simon Clare
Keyword(s):  
Implementation Process ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Healthcare Associated Infection ◽  
Aseptic Technique ◽  
Implementation Framework ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Healthcare Associated

septic technique is a critical last line of defence between patients and clinical staff. Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT) recognises this and is based on the premise that reducing the variables in aseptic practice across large clinical workforces by standardising aseptic technique will improve quality of practice and subsequently infection rates. The scale of adoption of ANTT in the National Health Service (NHS) continues to grow, with uptake currently estimated at between 150—250 NHS hospitals using ANTT as a standard aseptic technique. To better understand how effectively the implementation process was working in different trusts a convenience sample of acute trusts (n=7) was reviewed. The trusts used the recommended ANTT implementation framework and applicable audit tools. Feedback was requested regarding the implementation process as well as healthcare associated infection (HCAI) trends mapped before and after ANTT implementation. All seven trusts had found the ANTT implementation process an effective tool for standardising aseptic practice across large clinical workforces. Data reviewed from five of the trusts suggests the process impacted positively on HCAI trends. Limitations include appreciating ANTT implementation alongside other infection control interventions. More controlled studies appear to be warranted, especially now that ANTT is the most common standard aseptic technique in NHS hospitals.

Analysis of the role of copper impregnated composite hard surfaces, bed linens and patient gowns in reducing healthcare-associated infection rates

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene H Burke ◽  
Jacqueline P Butler
Keyword(s):  
Infection Risk ◽  
Healthcare Associated Infections ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Healthcare Associated Infection ◽  
Before And After ◽  
New Construction ◽  
Healthcare Associated ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of copper-impregnated composite hard surfaces, bed linens and patient gowns on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). We took in account potentially confounding factors of new construction and Det Norse Veritas Managing Infection Risk (DNV MIR) certification to mitigate risk of HAIs, multi drug resistant organisms (MDRO) and Clostridium difficile HAIs. The study was conducted in the acute care units from three hospitals within a regional healthcare system and these were assessed retrospectively. Facility 1 and Facility 2 shared the circumstance of new construction. Facility 1 and Facility 3 shared the processes of DNV-MIR. Only Facility 1 undertook the intervention of copper-impregnated hard surfaces, bed linens and patient gowns. We compared infection rates (IR) following their normalization per 10,000 patient hospitalization days before and after complete implementation of copper-impregnated composite hard surfaces, bed linens and patient gowns. Facility 1 had a 28% reduction in total C. difficile and MDRO IR, while Facilities 2 and 3 had 103% and 48% increases in total IR respectively. Although the rate changes per facility were not statistically significantly changed from baseline (p>0.05), there was consistent divergence between the IR at the copper enabled facility and the others. As this divergence occurred when other pertinent factors were constant between them, including new construction and new processes for mitigation of infection risks, these outcomes support the contention that copper-impregnated linens and composite hard surfaces were shown to reduce HAI rates.

scholarly journals A functional electric orthesis on the paretic leg improves quality of life of stroke patients

2006 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara Renata Fernandes ◽  
Luciane B.C. Carvalho ◽  
Gilmar F. Prado
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Bodily Pain ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Normal Life ◽  
Sf 36 ◽  
Before And After

CONTEXT: Hemiparesia changes quality of life of patients with stroke making difficult a normal life. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Functional Eletric Orthesis (FEO) applied over the paretic leg in the quality of life of stroke patients. METHOD: The quality of life of 50 stroke patients of Associacao de Assistencia a Crianca Deficiente (AACD) was evaluated with SF-36 questionnaire before and after the treatment with a FEO for rehabilitation of walking. We analyzed data according to gender and affected hemisphere. RESULTS: The average values from all domains of SF-36 improved significantly (p<0.001). Female patients improved more than male in Emotional Domain (p=0.04) and presented a trend to be better regarding Bodily Pain and Social Functioning. Patients with right hemiparesia improved more than those with left hemiparesia (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: FEO over a paretic leg is efficient to improve quality of life of stroke patients, mainly Physical Functioning.

Perceived quality of life before and after implantation of an internal cardioverter defibrillator

1995 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
EM Bainger ◽  
JI Fernsler
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Cardioverter Defibrillator ◽  
Perceived Quality Of Life ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Internal Cardioverter Defibrillator

BACKGROUND: Although use of the internal cardioverter defibrillator in selected high-risk patient groups has significantly improved survival, questions have arisen regarding its impact on psychological adjustment and quality of life. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there was a difference in perceived quality of life of internal cardioverter defibrillator recipients before implantation, reported retrospectively, and after implantation. METHODS: Survey packets containing a demographic data form, a modified version of the Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index: Cardiac Version, and a consent form were mailed to internal cardioverter defibrillator recipients accrued from two hospitals; 70 patients comprised the convenience sample. RESULTS: No significant difference in perceived overall quality of life was revealed by before and after implantation scores of t tests or analyses of variance. Young, unemployed patients with multiple health problems were most at risk for quality of life deficits. Overall, recipients in this study appeared to adapt effectively to the stresses associated with the device. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the internal cardioverter defibrillator did not prolong life at a sacrifice to quality of life. These findings can help identify patients at increased risk for quality of life deficits.

scholarly journals The NeoTree application: developing an integrated mHealth solution to improve quality of newborn care and survival in a district hospital in Malawi

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e000860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Crehan ◽  
Erin Kesler ◽  
Bejoy Nambiar ◽  
Queen Dube ◽  
Norman Lufesi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
District Hospital ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Newborn Care ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Usability Study ◽  
Resource Poor ◽  
Before And After

More than two-thirds of newborn lives could be saved worldwide if evidence-based interventions were successfully implemented. We developed the NeoTree application to improve quality of newborn care in resource-poor countries. The NeoTree is a fully integrated digital health intervention that combines immediate data capture, entered by healthcare workers (HCW) on admission, while simultaneously providing them with evidence-based clinical decision support and newborn care education. We conducted a mixed-methods intervention development study, codeveloping and testing the NeoTree prototype with HCWs in a district hospital in Malawi. Focus groups explored the acceptability and feasibility of digital health solutions before and after implementation of the NeoTree in the clinical setting. One-to-one theoretical usability workshops and a 1-month clinical usability study informed iterative changes, gathered process and clinical data, System Usability Scale (SUS) and perceived improvements in quality of care. HCWs perceived the NeoTree to be acceptable and feasible. Mean SUS before and after the clinical usability study were high at 80.4 and 86.1, respectively (above average is >68). HCWs reported high-perceived improvements in quality of newborn care after using the NeoTree on the ward. They described improved confidence in clinical decision-making, clinical skills, critical thinking and standardisation of care. Identified factors for successful implementation included a technical support worker. Coproduction, mixed-methods approaches and user-focused iterative development were key to the development of the NeoTree prototype, which was shown to be an agile, acceptable, feasible and highly usable tool with the potential to improve the quality of newborn care in resource-poor settings.

Moving palliative care upstream for patients diagnosed with head and neck cancers.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 227-227
Author(s):  
Tamara M Day
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Psychosocial Distress ◽  
Head And Neck Cancers ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Convenience Sample

227 Background: Adults with cancer face complex treatment choices and symptom burden that impact their quality of life. Goals of palliative care (PC) are to reduce symptom burden and improve quality of life. Strong evidence exists that PC helps reduce symptom burden, decreases hospital utilization, and improve quality of life. Yet, PC remains underutilized, especially in the context of cancer care. Methods: This descriptive longitudinal study evaluated whether use of a psychosocial distress screening tool would help identify patients eligible for PC. A convenience sample of adults with diagnosis of head and neck cancers presenting to an otolaryngology clinic, located in the cancer center of a Midwestern academic health system, were screened for eligibility for PC referral. If eligible, the provider was notified and introduced PC to the patient. Upon acceptance, a PC referral was ordered. The project consisted of baseline (n = 61) and follow-up chart reviews (n = 60) of patients seen in clinic during over a 3-month period. Results: We found an increase in PC referrals from 14.6% at baseline to 30.8% in follow-up, a 227% increase. Psychosocial distress screenings increased from 5% at baseline to 45% in follow-up, an increase of 200%. Of patients who received a PC referral, 85.6% accepted. There were statistically significant differences found between the pre- and post-intervention groups for marital status, χ2 (3) = 9.67, ( p = .02); and cancer stage χ2 (4) = 21.35, ( p = .00) with increased referrals for married patients at higher cancer stages in the prospective group. Conclusions: This study has shown physicians maybe more likely to offer PC referrals based on cancer stages, and not based on psychosocial distress symptoms. Potential barriers to early referral to PC were identified and could serve as useful information for future studies.

O15 Changes in healthcare-associated infection rates in French maternity units from 1997 to 2003

2007 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. S3
Author(s):  
A. Vincent ◽  
L. Ayzac ◽  
R. Girard ◽  
E. Caillat-Vallet ◽  
C. Chapuis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Rates ◽  
Healthcare Associated Infection ◽  
Healthcare Associated

Denominator Doesn’t Matter: Standardizing Healthcare-Associated Infection Rates by Bed Days or Device Days

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 710-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly J. Horstman ◽  
Yu-Fang Li ◽  
Peter L. Almenoff ◽  
Ron W. Freyberg ◽  
Barbara W. Trautner
Keyword(s):  
Veterans Health Administration ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Healthcare Associated Infection ◽  
Administration Medical ◽  
Medical Centers ◽  
Bed Days ◽  
Healthcare Associated

OBJECTIVETo examine the impact on infection rates and hospital rank for catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) using device days and bed days as the denominatorDESIGNRetrospective survey from October 2010 to July 2013SETTINGVeterans Health Administration medical centers providing acute medical and surgical carePATIENTSPatients admitted to 120 Veterans Health Administration medical centers reporting healthcare-associated infectionsMETHODSWe examined the importance of using device days and bed days as the denominator between infection rates and hospital rank for CAUTI, CLABSI, and VAP for each medical center. The relationship between device days and bed days as the denominator was assessed using a Pearson correlation, and changes in infection rates and device utilization were evaluated by an analysis of variance.RESULTSA total of 7.9 million bed days were included. From 2011 to 2013, CAUTI decreased whether measured by device days (2.32 to 1.64, P=.001) or bed days (4.21 to 3.02, P=.006). CLABSI decreased when measured by bed days (1.67 to 1.19, P=.04). VAP rates and device utilization ratios for CAUTI, CLABSI, and VAP were not statistically different across time. Infection rates calculated with device days were strongly correlated with infection rates calculated with bed days (r=0.79–0.94, P<.001). Hospital relative performance measured by ordered rank was also strongly correlated for both denominators (r=0.82–0.96, P<.001).CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggest that device days and bed days are equally effective adjustment metrics for comparing healthcare-associated infection rates between hospitals in the setting of stable device utilization.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015;00(0): 1–7

scholarly journals Development of a nursing website for critical care regarding healthcare-associated infections

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (suppl 5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliézer Farias de Mello ◽  
Bárbara Alessandra Tibério ◽  
Mitzy Tannia Reichembach ◽  
Letícia Pontes
Keyword(s):  
Development Process ◽  
Health Care Research ◽  
Product Development Process ◽  
Healthcare Associated Infections ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Healthcare Associated Infection ◽  
Computational Tools ◽  
Technological Production ◽  
Research And Education ◽  
Healthcare Associated

ABSTRACT Objective: to describe the development of a website about the main healthcare-associated infections and the respective bundles to prevent these diseases, oriented toward intensive care unit nursing. Methods: experience report describing the development of technological innovation by nurses, using computational tools and technological production methodological research and following the product development process. Results: nurses developed an educational website which can be accessed through computers, tablets, and smartphones at the electronic address irastis.com and focuses on healthcare-associated infections. Final considerations: digital technologies have contributed to fulfill demands in health care, research, and education. The developed website has the potential to support reduction in healthcare-associated infection rates, since it makes preventive measures for these infections available and refers users to publication environments that systematize the implementation of the bundles.

scholarly journals Application of social dance exercise and social support program to improve quality of life for Thai older adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-266
Author(s):  
Kwanrutai Sampoon ◽  
Nuengruethai Posri ◽  
Boonsri Kittichotpanich
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Support Program ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Social Dance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Before And After

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to test the effectiveness of social dance exercise and social support program to improve quality of life (QOL) for older adults in Thailand. Design/methodology/approach A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test research design was used. The participants were 102 older adults selected by systematic sampling technique. Participants were assigned using the matched-pair technique by age, physical fitness test by the Time up and Go test into intervention and control groups of 51 subjects each. Intervention was conducted for 12 weeks, three times weekly, to improve physical, psychosocial and spiritual domains leading to enhanced QOL as measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL–BREF–THAI) assessment parameter. Data on QOL were collected before and after a 12-week training period. Findings Most adults were between 70 and 79 years old (67 percent). After program completion, before and after mean QOL scores for the intervention group at 60.15 and 95.82, respectively, were statistically significant with p-value<0.05. Post-program QOL shown by the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05). Originality/value Application of social dance exercise and social support program is an alternative to traditional methods to improve QOL and maintain functional capacity for older adults.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document