The Connection Newsletter | Superbugs: A Nightmare on Your Hands

Superbugs: A Nightmare on Your Hands

lhinconnection | 04 May, 2009 14:56

Article by the Regional Infection Control Networks

Background:
There are few resources created for long term care for infection control in particular there are few resources highlighting the use of alcohol hand rub. There has been little teaching done for front line staff in infection control. In the province of Ontario, 75% of direct care provided in the homes is by Personal Support Workers (PSWs). According to Nadine Janes, PSWs usually figure it out in the moment. Best practice may be better understood by reflecting on what is required of them. Janes found that PSW workers want to do a good job and need to feel inclusion as part of the team. PSW workers often struggle to feel valued for their contribution to residents’ care.

The Project:
Focus groups were held with PSWs and managers in Erie St Clair to determine education needs for infection prevention and control. Needs expressed by PSWs were fear of acquiring MRSA and C.difficile. Managers were concerned about glove use and misuse. Using Nadine Jane’s theory of how PSWs learn in the moment and principles of adult education sessions for PSWs were created and delivered: 32 sessions and 400 PSWs to evaluate content and delivery. A professional film company took the content and created a short DVD to provide standardized accessible education to PSWs in nursing homes on hand hygiene and glove use. The DVD, Superbugs, A Nightmare On Your Hands, has been distributed across Ontario. The DVD includes a companion teaching guide to help the educator with the teaching along with a 10 question quiz.

Objectives:
At the end of the teaching session the learner should be able to:

Identify 2 methods of performing hand hygiene
Give examples of appropriate times to perform hand hygiene
Describe proper and improper uses for gloves
Demonstrate the steps to removing gloves to prevent hand contamination
Describe ways that MRSA is spread
Describe ways that C.difficile is spread
Relate hand hygiene to stopping the spread of MRSA and C.difficile to staff and residents
Relate proper glove use to stopping the spread of MRSA and C.difficile to staff and resident

Results:
Using adult learning principles and Nadine Janes theory resulted in positive evaluations. Although only 58% indicated an increase in knowledge on the topic;

99% enjoyed the presentation;
98% reported it was a good use of their time;
99% felt the teaching methods were effective and
100% reported their questions on the topic were answered.
The DVD evaluation results showed 100% of nursing homes reported it to be a useful educational tool.

Lessons Learned:
An IPAC resource was successfully created.

Next Steps:
Further evaluation of the resource in terms of changing practice is required.