Disentangling complexity: a visualisation-led tool for healthcare associated infection training

Abstract

Training in infection prevention and control (IPC) measures is crucial to minimise the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), a growing cause of patient illness and death in hospital. This paper describes a participative approach to developing a prototype tablet-based digital training tool using dynamic visualisation-led techniques to raise awareness and understanding of IPC and HAIs for hospital-based staff. An evidence-based and iterative visualisation prototyping process was used to engage staff and invite contributions from across a number of roles within the NHS, a typically hierarchical sector. Findings suggest the visualisation-led approach was helpful in articulating the behaviours of pathogens and staff and their interactions within the complex setting and service ecology of the NHS and in making IPC training materials clearer and more engaging.

Addressing Infection Risk in Veterinary Practice through the Innovative Application of Interactive 3D Animation Methods

“…There can be a tendency in digital modelling to build as photo-realistic a simulation of the actual environment and its individuals as possible. In previous work in the human health environment (Macdonald et al 2016), healthcare participants' feedback had requested a high degree of visual reality in the ward detail but difficulties were encountered in overlaying this with microbial information which was visually legible. Although the video and photographic data captured at the outset of this current study would have enabled this, replicating extraneous 'visual clutter' within the veterinary practice environment would have severely limited the ability to clearly 'reveal' the contamination issues and IPC measures.…”

“…In previous studies, co-design approaches for the development of visualization techniques to address IPC issues in the human healthcare environment have been utilized (Macdonald et al 2016;Macdonald et al 2017). Locating this study in the veterinary environment enabled significant continuation of and advance in this ongoing programme of work in developing visualization-led 3D digital training tools for IPC.…”

Introduction: Design for Health, Wellbeing and Happiness

“…They go on to report on a co-creation design practice between the designer and the user, using speculative design probes. Macdonald et al (2016) describe a participative approach to developing a prototype tabletbased digital training tool using dynamic visualisation-led techniques to raise awareness and understanding of Infection Prevention and Control and Healthcare-Associated Infections for hospital-based staff. An evidence-based and iterative visualisation prototyping process was used to engage staff and invite contributions from across a number of roles within the National Health Service in the UK.…”

Significance of Ongoing Training and Professional Development in Optimizing Healthcare-associated Infection Prevention and Control

“…HAI training plays a crucial role in providing medical services and has garnered recognition within the medical community. [ 26 ] The field of HI control encompasses diverse specialties and demands a high level of theoretical and practical knowledge. However, many medical schools have not established relevant courses and programs, leaving professionals and medical personnel with limited knowledge and skills in HI control upon assuming their positions.…”