Hand Hygiene and Infection in Hospitals

Quantitative Article
Tan Jr, A. K., & Jeffrey Olivo, B. S. (2015). Assessing healthcare associated infections and hand hygiene perceptions amongst healthcare professionals. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 8(1), 108.
1. Describe how the researcher addresses the following four areas in the selected journal article (Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology and Data Analysis:
The purpose of the study is to support the World Health Organization hand hygiene campaign against healthcare associated infections (HAIs). The study aims to conduct an assessment of the perception towards hand hygiene amid healthcare professionals within the hospital. In particular, the study seeks to ascertain perceptions on HAIs and hand hygiene. The literature review conducted by the researcher was not quite extensive. Nonetheless, the previous research studies included by the author demonstrate that the execution of the hand hygiene strategy recommended by WHO is practicable, viable and sustainable across a wide range of different settings in various nations and gives rise to substantial compliance and knowledge enhancement amongst healthcare workers, supporting endorsement all over the globe.
In regard to methodology, the study employed a descriptive method by making use of a standardized survey questionnaire of the WHO. The main purpose of the descriptive research survey was to facilitate observation, description, analysis and also documenting elements of situation as it naturally takes place. In this regard, the perceptions regarding HAI and hand hygiene were the emphasis of the study carried out at the Ministry of Interior Security Hospitals in the Jeddah Kingdom within Saudi Arabia. Healthcare professionals were included in the sample of the study and in total 87 of them participated in the study.
In regard to data analysis, SPSS statistical software version 17 was utilized for purposes of the statistical analysis of the gathered data. Descriptive statistics and inferential non-parametric Chi-square test was employed. With respect to statistical tests, P-values less than 0.05 were taken into consideration to be statistically significant.
2. Evaluate whether the evidence presented in each of the four areas of the journal article from part A1 supports the outcome of the study and implications for future research
The evidence that is presented in each of the four areas aforementioned of the article supports the results of the study and implications for future research. The study examined the discernment towards hand hygiene amongst healthcare professionals in the hospital setting. The outcomes demonstrated that health care professionals have a substantially high level of knowledge and understanding regarding health care-associated infections and the key role that hand hygiene plays. To begin with, the study demonstrated that respondents have a substantially high discernment and point of view that health care associated infections have a significant impact in patient outcome. Secondly, the outcomes of the study did not just substantiate with the findings of previous research, but also demonstrated that most of the health care professionals had a huge magnitude of awareness regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of hand hygiene against HAI. This cognizance can be associated to the formal education attained and training attended and previously undertaken by respondents. In overall, the research findings of the study give the suggestion that health care workers have a significant level of awareness regarding HAIs and the significance of hand hygiene.
3. Explain how the protection of human subjects and cultural considerations were addressed by the researcher, using specific information from the journal article from part A.
One of the key ways in which the protection of human subjects were addressed in the study is through the seeking of ethical approval and sanction from the Infection Control and Prevention Committee of the hospital. Notably, research permit and consent was sought from the main director of the hospital. Secondly, participation of all human subjects in the study was entirely voluntary. None of the participants were forced to partake in the study. Third, information package and informed consent was provided. In regard to cultural considerations, the participants that were included in the research study encompassed healthcare professionals. That is, medical doctors, physicians, nurses as well as other persons who were directly in contact with the patients at least on an everyday basis, comprehended English and were also willing and prepared to participate in the study.
4. Describe one strength and one limitation of the study
One of the key strong suits of the study is that it employed healthcare professionals and the Perception Survey for Health-Care Workers questionnaire, which was created and recommended by the World Health Organization, in their advocacy for patient safety. This is a questionnaire that is utilized in measuring perception with respect to healthcare associated infection and hand hygiene. What is more imperative, the questionnaire has been dependable and has been validated by the WHO.
One limitation of the study is that it was small-scale and therefore the results obtained are hard to be generalized owing to the reason that the respondents incorporated by the researcher in the study came from a single location. The utilization of this comparatively small sample in itself is a limitation of the study. What is more, reliance on self-reporting created a limitation on the objectivity of the data and therefore it is considered that a study making use of observation might offer a more dependable data in measuring compliance.
5. Describe how the evidence from the article in part A informs current nursing practices
The evidence from the article significantly informs current nursing practices. To begin with, health care associated infections have a major impact on patient outcome, with a greater likelihood of hospitalized patients developing HAIs. Secondly, hand hygiene continues to be the single and most effective solution against healthcare associated infections. Third, different organizational factors, for instance, engagement with the hospital staff, dedication of the hospital heads of department, and also leadership are considered to play a significant role in the promotion of hand hygiene practices. What is more, there are different effective strategies that can be employed including accessibility to hand hygiene facilities, education and training, following guidelines and instructions and also positive role modeling.
Qualitative Article
Esfandiari, A., Salari, H., Rashidian, A., Asl, H. M., Foroushani, A. R., & Sari, A. A. (2018). Eliminating healthcare-associated infections in Iran: a qualitative study to explore stakeholders’ views. International journal of health policy and management, 7(1), 27.
1. Describe how the researcher addresses the following four areas in the selected journal article (Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology and Data Analysis:
The purpose of the study is to explore the view of different stakeholders on measuring and controlling HAIs in Iran. The Iranian economy is largely encumbered by HAIs with an incidence rate of 18 percent and one medical ward having to incur $150,000 to deal with the issue. In addition, the death rate was established to be 14.8 percent between 2007 and 2010.
An extensive literature review was not provided within the article.
In the case of the methodology, the study employed a qualitative study design to conduct an exploration of the phenomenon. Specifically, the authors utilized the purposive sampling technique for identifying study participants until attaining data saturation. In total, 24 participants were included in the study, with 10 of them from the Ministry of Health, and the remaining 14 from universities and hospitals having 7 each. Furthermore, the researchers employed a semi-structured interview approach for data gathering. In order to create the interview guide, the researchers initially carried out a literature review on their own and thereafter two face-to-face in-depth interviews to achieve proficient information to complete the information from the literature. Thereafter, two pilot interviews were initially carried out to ascertain the validity of the data collection instruments.
Data analysis in the study encompassed coding, which employed the MAXQDA10 software. The researcher employed the thematic framework method, which comprised of five different stages including familiarization, identification of the thematic framework, indexing, charting, and finally mapping and interpretation. Thereafter, core themes were carefully chosen and analyzed. What is more, the researchers guaranteed the credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability of the researcher findings as is expected in a qualitative research study.
2. Evaluate whether the evidence presented in each of the four areas of the journal article from part B1 supports the outcome of the study and implications for future research
The evidence that is presented in each of the four areas aforementioned of the article supports the results of the study and implications for future research. The study examined the discernment and perspectives of stakeholders towards tackling HAIs. The outcomes of the study indicated that through education and engagement with media, it is possible to ensure that both physicians and the patients comprehend the importance of hand hygiene. In addition, with the methodology having incorporated experts from MOH, universities and hospitals, the evidence presented supported the outcomes with these experts delineating the significance of governance in the tackling of HAIs for those that fail to adhere to hand hygiene procedures and instructions.
3. Explain how the protection of human subjects and cultural considerations were addressed by the researcher, using specific information from the journal article from part B.
The journal article took into consideration ethical issues. To begin with, the approval and consent of the research study was done by the ethics committee of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Secondly, any involvement and participation of the research participants was entirely voluntary. Apart from this, the authors comprehensively explained to the research participants the research objectives, the approach of collecting data and also the role that the researchers would play in the study. Subsequently, the researchers obtained informed consent from each of the study participants without any incentives. What is more, all of the study participants were given the assurance that any data and information rendered would be handles with the highest level of confidentiality.
4. Describe one strength and one limitation of the study
A key strength of the study is that there exists a limited literature in regard to the subject manner of multifaceted interventions that could be employed in addressing the problem being faced in Iran. In this regard, the study purposed to conduct an exploration of the stakeholders’ perspectives on measures of controlling HAIs in Iran.
The research study did face a number of limitations. One of the fundamental ones is that even though the authors gathered data from various levels and various placed engrossed in the prevention of as well as control of HAIs, for instance, hospital and medical universities in addition to using other approaches such as group discussions, assimilating all of the participants from the three levels was not viable and at the end of the day view and opinions of the stakeholders were obtained via semi-structured interviews.
5. Describe how the evidence from the article in part B informs current nursing practices
Evidence obtained from the article substantially informs the current nursing practices. One of the suggestions takes into account ensuring that the prevention and controlling of HAIs is part of the nationwide health agenda. There is also the recommendation of structural reforms, handing authority to infection control commissions, augmenting financial and material resources, and reinforcing the information and reporting system. Secondly, there is the recommendation that significant advancements in controlling HAIs could be attained if healthcare providers were incentivized to abide by standards or penalized for failure to act in line with principles. More importantly, there was the recommendation for bringing knowledge gap via research and education. That is, education in tandem with the active involvement with the media in emphasizing hand hygiene can substantially help in the tackling of HAIs.
References
Esfandiari, A., Salari, H., Rashidian, A., Asl, H. M., Foroushani, A. R., & Sari, A. A. (2018). Eliminating healthcare-associated infections in Iran: a qualitative study to explore stakeholders’ views. International journal of health policy and management, 7(1), 27.
Tan Jr, A. K., & Jeffrey Olivo, B. S. (2015). Assessing healthcare associated infections and hand hygiene perceptions amongst healthcare professionals. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 8(1), 108.