Adoption of infection prevention and control practices by healthcare workers in Québec: A qualitative study

Abstract

Objective:To describe barriers and facilitators to the adoption of recommended infection prevention and control (IPC) practices among healthcare workers (HCWs).Methods:A qualitative research design was used. Individual semistructured interviews with HCWs and observations of clinical practices were conducted from February to May 2018 in 8 care units of 2 large tertiary-care hospitals in Montreal (Québec, Canada).Results:We interviewed 13 managers, 4 nurses, 2 physicians, 3 housekeepers, and 2 medical laboratory technologists. We conducted 7 observations by following IPC nurses (n = 3), nurses (n = 2), or patient attendants (n = 2) in their work routines. Barriers to IPC adoption were related to the context of care, workplace environment issues, and communication issues. The main facilitator of the IPC adoption by HCWs was the “development of an IPC culture or safety culture.” The “IPC culture” relied upon leadership support by managers committed to IPC, shared belief in the importance of IPC measures to limit healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), collaboration and good communication among staff, as well as proactivity and ownership of IPC measures (ie, development of local solutions to reduce HAIs and “working together” toward common goals).Conclusions:Adoption of recommended IPC measures by HCWs is strongly influenced by the “IPC culture.” The IPC culture was not uniform within hospital and differences in IPC culture were identified between care units.

The status of infection prevention and control structures in Eastern China based on the IPCAF tool of the World Health Organization

“…In our study, only 10.4% of the participating hospitals assessed safety cultural factors. Although the importance of adhering to IPC recommendations has been highlighted, adoption remains suboptimal in hospitals [ 25 ]. Safety culture is recognized as a critical factor in improving IPC performance and reducing HAIs [ 26 , 27 ].…”

Barriers and facilitators to infection prevention and control in Dutch residential care facilities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A theory-informed qualitative study

“…qualitative study among different healthcare workers (HCWs) indicated that the application of IPC heavily relies upon a shared belief in the importance of IPC, as well as proactivity and ownership of IPC practices [38]. Other key findings of the present study are the need for structural educational systems aimed at all professionals, and time and staff deficits as important barriers.…”

Exploring variations in IPC competencies: a cross-sectional study among healthcare professionals in Northwest China

“…The consistent outperformance of Senior Associates across all domains, including IPC Project Management and Leadership, Architectural Environment, Basic Microbiology, and various preventive measures, accentuates the pivotal influence of job roles on competency acquisition. This may be attributed to the self-perception and motivational abilities of individuals in higher-level positions, fostering IPC competence [ 17 , 18 ]. This underscores the necessity for targeted training and development initiatives tailored to specific professional levels, ensuring a more nuanced and effective enhancement of IPC skills.…”