Predictors of missed infection control care: A tri‐partite international study

Abstract

Aim This study aimed to quantify types and frequencies of missed infection control care and to develop a theoretical model for estimating nurses’ consensus scores about this form of missed care. Design A non‐experimental research design using self‐audit data was selected to collect information about the types and frequencies of missed infection control care from nurses employed in hospitals located in three different countries. Data collection commenced mid‐year 2018. Methods A multivariate approach was used to apply the consensus scores of 1.911 internationally based nurses in the missed opportunities for maintaining infection control. Results/findings Thirteen variables exert direct effects on the nurses’ total scores underpinning missed infection control care. These include the methods used to prevent hospital‐acquired infections, surveillance and hand hygiene practices. Significant nurses’ demographic factors also included their countries of origin, employment status, employer type, job retention intentions, work intensity, length of clinical experience and staff development attendance. Conclusion In magnitude of importance and having the largest effect on missed infection control care is missed care related to reducing hospital‐acquired infections followed closely by surveillance. Missed infection control care can be quantified, and variances in its practices can be accounted by exploring the nurses’ differing demographic factors, including the nurses’ country of origin. Impact Variations in missed infection control care can be accounted for across three countries. While ward hygiene is underestimated by staff as a mechanism to minimize nosocomial infections, infection control surveillance remains the key to reducing hospital‐acquired infections. The study's outcomes invite the use of an ongoing, whole‐of‐organization approach to infection control with scrutiny being needed for improved staff adherence particularly with hand hygiene.

Were the unfinished nursing care occurrence, reasons, and consequences different between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients? A systematic review

“…Thus, the item “turning patients every two hours” mainly to prevent pressure sores may have been misinterpreted or attributed less meaning. Moreover, the list of items included was not able to reflect the practices required to prevent the spread of infection as infection prevention/control programmes [ 49 ]. Thus, instruments may have missed the capacity to capture some specific elements of care required during the pandemic.…”

An empirical analysis of the constructs of Fundamentals of Care Framework using structural equation modelling

“…In the past 15 years, there have been numerous international studies demonstrating evidence of inadequate care delivery, manifesting itself as poor residential aged care (Blackman et al, 2019), compromised patient safety (Kalisch et al, 2011), impaired infection control (Blackman et al, 2021) and inadequate mother and childcare (Blackman et al, 2020). Lack of care exists both in the community (Phelan et al, 2018) and in the acute care environments (Duffy et al, 2018).…”

Missed nursing care, low value activities and cultures of busyness

“…This review also provides important and detailed information on the nature of missed nursing care and shows that all manner of care is liable to being missed, including personal hygiene, skin care, oral care, discharge preparation, assistance with food and hydration, medications and infusions and hand hygiene. Blackman et al (2022) focused on issues around infection control and found that 13 variables exerted influence on missed infection control care, including methods used to prevent hospital‐acquired infections, surveillance and hand hygiene practices.…”