Respiratory hygiene in emergency departments: Compliance, beliefs, and perceptions

Background Low respiratory hygiene compliance among health care workers of emergency departments has become a major concern in the spread of respiratory infections. Our objective was to determine the compliance with respiratory hygiene of triage nurses at 2 university hospital centers and to identif...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of infection control 2013-01, Vol.41 (1), p.14-18
Main Authors: Martel, Julie, MD, Bui-Xuan, Eva-Flore, MD, Carreau, Anne-Marie, MD, Carrier, Jean-Daniel, MD, Larkin, Émilie, MD, Vlachos-Mayer, Helen, MD, Dumas, Mario-Eddy, MD, MS, FRCPC
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Attitude of Health Personnel
Attitudes
Biological and medical sciences
Compliance
Cross Infection - prevention & control
Cross-Sectional Studies
Emergency medical care
Emergency Service, Hospital
Epidemiology. Vaccinations
Female
General aspects
Guideline Adherence
Health care workers
Hospitals, University
Humans
Hygiene
Infection Control
Infectious Disease
Infectious diseases
Knowledge
Male
Masks - statistics & numerical data
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Nurses
Observation
Perceptions
Questionnaire
Respiratory diseases
Respiratory Tract Infections - prevention & control
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
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Summary:Background Low respiratory hygiene compliance among health care workers of emergency departments has become a major concern in the spread of respiratory infections. Our objective was to determine the compliance with respiratory hygiene of triage nurses at 2 university hospital centers and to identify factors influencing compliance to the respiratory hygiene principles of emergency health care workers. Methods A 2-part, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted at 2 training centers. An anonymous observation of compliance with respiratory hygiene by triage emergency nurses was performed. A self-administered, voluntary questionnaire on attitudes, perceptions, and knowledge of respiratory hygiene guidelines was distributed to the health care workers at the emergency department of the 2 hospital sites. Results Median objective compliance with respiratory hygiene measures of triage nurses was 22% (interquartile range [IQR], 11%-33%). Median perceived compliance of the health care workers was 68% (IQR, 61%-79%). Median actual knowledge score was 75% (IQR, 75%-100%). Overall, 91.9% of respondents believed that the mask was an effective preventive measure. The main obstacles toward mask wearing by the health care worker were “tendency to forget” (37.8%) and “discomfort” (35.1%). Conclusion The compliance rate at our institution is very low. We identified a few factors affecting adherence to respiratory hygiene measures that are of potential use in targeting groups and formulating recommendations.
ISSN:0196-6553
1527-3296
DOI:10.1016/j.ajic.2011.12.019