Nursing Intervention for the Promotion of Infection Control in Two Teaching Hospitals
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the Study
The main objective of this study is to determine the effects of a training programme on infection control among nurses. The specific objectives are to:
- To assess the effectiveness of the training programme on knowledge of participants about infection control.
- To document the effectiveness of the training programme on attitudes of participants towards infection control.
- To assess the effectiveness of a training programme on infection risk reduction and ascertain if there is any difference between the self-reported practices and the actual observed practices of infection control in the experimental group.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Conceptual Framework
Infection control
Infection control practice is at the root of modern health care. Infection control refers to policies and procedures used to minimize the risk of spreading infections, especially in hospitals and designated facilities for human or animal health care delivery. Infection control within a health care setting are measures practiced by healthcare workers to reduce the transmission of infectious agents from patient to patient, patient to staff member and staff member to patient. Infection control measures are determined by the mode of transmission of the infectious agent, and include standard operating procedures related to personal safety precautions, as well as those related to the avoidance of direct contact with infectious materials (fomites) and body fluids, droplet infections. (Kelemua Gulilat, Gebeyaw Tiruneh, 2014; Siegel, Rhinehart, Jackson, Chiarello, & Health Care Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, 2007). In this study the emphasis is on transmission of blood borne infections with standard precautions as the control measure. Health care workers particularly nurses are key players in the control and control of infections in health care settings. Florence Nightingale established the relationship between nursing and infection control in 1854, during the Crimean war, when she served in a military hospital in Scutari, Italy (Kamisky, 2004 as cited in Smith, 2009). According to Kamisky (2004 as cited in Smith, 2009) Nightingale championed the cause of improved hygiene and living conditions for International Journal of Nursing, Midwife and Health Related Cases Vol.3, No.4, pp.18-34, July 2017 ___Published by European Centre for Research Training and Development UK (www.eajournals.org) 19 Print ISSN: ISSN 2397-0758, Online ISSN: 2397-0766 hospitalized soldiers, by advocating for basic public health, infection control measures, cleanliness, hygiene and education as a means of safeguarding and promoting the health of patients. She is perceived as the first infection control nurse (Elliot, 2004 as cited in Smith, 2009). In the U.K the first infection control nurse was appointed in April 1959 at Torbay, Devon in response to an increased incidence of Staphylococcal infections (Ayliffe, 2003 as cited in Cole, 2006). The practice of infection control was introduced in Nigeria in the 1970s when the Departments of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan and that of College of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos appointed infection control practitioners in their respective departments which stimulated infection control activities throughout the nation (Iwuchukwu-sobayo, 2005). The first trained infection control nurse was appointed by the University College Hospital, Ibadan during this period. She acquired her professional experience in the United States, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria (Iwuchukwu-Sobayo, 2005). Inspite of this early focus on infection control, infections in hospitals continue to be a major cause for concern in the delivery of high quality health services in both developed and developing countries (Jackson, Lowton & Griffiths, 2013). Health care-associated infections have long been recognized as crucial factors bothering the quality and outcomes of health care delivery. Health care-associated infections (HAIs) are important cause of adverse health outcomes such as morbidity, mortality, and increased health care costs with possible attendant litigations. “An infection is considered nosocomial if it becomes evident 48 hours or more after hospital admission or within 30 days of discharge following inpatient care (Bello et al., 2011) The emergence of life threatening infectious diseases have pointed to the need for effective and efficient infection control programs in all health care settings and capacity building for HCW to prevent the transmission of pathogens within the health care setting. Workers and employers are urged to take advantage of available technologically-engineered safety control measures and work practices to prevent exposure to hospital associated infections (Samuel, et al.,Javis, 1996; Garner & Simmons, 1983).
Chapter THREE
Research Methodology
Research Design
This study adopted a Descriptive/simple survey research design. A survey research design according to Osuala (2001) centers on individual and their opinion, belief, motivation and behavior. The design was considered suitable since the study will solicit information from respondents in Ogun.
Area of the Study
The study is conducted in Babcock university teaching hospital and Olabisi Onabanjo University teaching hospital in Ogun State.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS, RESULTS AND INTEPRETATION
This chapter deals with the presentation and analysis of data obtained from the administration of the instrument (questionnaire) of the study. The data are arranged following the order of the research questions that guided the study
Chapter FIVE
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
Summary
This work is examine the nursing intervention for the promotion of infection control in two teaching hospitals. A study of two teaching hospitals in Ogun were carried out. Three research objectives, questions and hypothesis were formulated to carry out this work. The results of our study showed that, there is a significant difference in the mean knowledge score of infection control between the experimental group and the control group, There is no significant difference between the self-reported practice and observed practice of infection control in the experimental group and There is no significant difference in the mean practice score of infection control between the experimental group and the control group. Despite limited resources, developing countries, such as Nigeria, still have to deal with complex issues related to infection control and enforcement of standard precautions. This reflects the need for enhancing knowledge of Diploma and Bachelor nursing qualification categories, and could emphasis the need for continuous training courses about infection control to facilitate adherence to infection control measures. Nevertheless, the prevention of infection is a major concern of all health workers and health policy makers. Nursing is crucial to the success of any preventive program aimed at reducing the incidence of infections in our health care facilities. Nurses therefore, must possess adequate knowledge and demonstrate practices towards achieving the goal of prevention of infections.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that nurses in the current study have good practice level regarding infection control. However, inspite of having knowledge about infection control, their overall knowledge didn’t reach the good level.
- Updating knowledge and practice of nurses through continuing in-service educational programs.
- Emphasizing the importance of following latest evidence-based practices of infection control in continuing education / training programs.
- Providing training programs for newly nurses about infection control and at regular intervals.
- A replication of this study using observation checklist should be done to assess the level of practice.
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