[Variables related to job satisfaction. Cross-sectional study using the European Foundation for Quality Management [EFQM] model]. / Variables relacionadas con la satisfacción laboral: un estudio transversal a partir del modelo EFQM.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the influence of the dimensions of people items and sociodemographic characteristics included in the EFQM model on high satisfaction of healthcare workers in a district hospital. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study in November 2003. The questionnaire used was the personal satisfaction survey of the Basque Country (Spain). The outcome measure was a high degree of satisfaction (75th percentile or higher). Independent variables were sociodemographic and organizational characteristics. The association among variables was assessed using odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence interval (CI). Adjustment for confounders was performed by unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: On a scale from 0 to 10, the mean general satisfaction score was 5.95 (standard deviation, 2). Twenty-five percent of workers gave their general satisfaction with the organizational climate a score of 8 or more points. The most positively considered features were the environmental policy, hierarchical relations, promotion, and professional development. The most negatively viewed items were salary, knowledge and identification of objectives, and training. The variables most closely related to outcome were a favorable perception of training (adjusted OR = 5.04; 95% CI, 2.16-11.77) and recognition of the work performed (adjusted OR = 4.68; 95% CI, 2.20-10.08). Sociodemographic factors had less influence on satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of the staff surveyed in our hospital were satisfied or highly satisfied with the organizational climate. Satisfaction was strongly associated with positive evaluation of organizational characteristics.

[Impact of a hand hygiene campaign on alcoholic hand rub consumption in a tertiary hospital]. / Impacto de una campaña de mejora de la higiene de manos sobre el consumo de soluciones hidroalcohólicas en un hospital de tercer nivel.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of a hand hygiene program on consumption of alcoholic hand rub, and specifically the impact of the development of hand washing training in a tertiary hospital belonging to the Cantabrian Health Service in Spain. METHODS: We performed an ecological study from January 2005 to December 2008. The dependent variable was consumption of alcoholic hand rub (ml/day). As the independent variable, we used the hand hygiene campaign developed by the Cantabrian Health Service. The relationship between alcoholic hand rub consumption and the campaign was evaluated using multiple linear regression. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The training received in hand hygiene in hospital wards was associated with consumption of alcoholic hand rub, which improved as the campaign became consolidated (in 2008) and showed a positive effect, particularly its training aspects.

Evaluating the impact of a hand hygiene campaign on improving adherence.

We monitored compliance with hand hygiene (HH) by direct observation in 3 hospitals in Cantabria, Spain before and after implementation of an HH informational campaign, separately analyzing the effect of a training program. We report that training plus an informational campaign doubled the probability of HH, whereas the informational campaign without training decreased adherence, acting as a deleterious factor in HH adherence.

[Differences in patient satisfaction by gender in users of hospitals in the Cantabrian Health Service]. / Diferencias en la satisfacción percibida según el sexo en los pacientes ingresados en los hospitales del Servicio Cántabro de Salud.

OBJECTIVE: To study differences in patient satisfaction by gender, among users of hospitals in the Cantabrian Health Service, and if differences were found, to modify organizational policies of the centers in order to improve the quality of care. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in October 2006, using the SERVQHOS questionnaire by telephone. The database of the questionnaire was merged with CMBD database, from which we extracted the length of stay and surgical data. The Student-Fisher t-test was used for quantitative variables and the chi(2) test for qualitative variables. Adjustment was carried out by linear regression. RESULTS: The patient satisfaction is similar in male and female users of the hospitals in the Cantabrian Health Service. Although men are more satisfied on the information to relatives on the place and times for clinical information (92% vs 85.2%; p<0.01), the handing over of the discharge report (95.5% vs 90.9%; p=0.01), and that the report was the definitive (71.6% vs 64.7%; p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The differences we found in patient satisfaction by gender do not justify changes in hospital organization to try and improve the quality of care.