Using a human-factors engineering approach to evaluate environmental cleaning in Veterans' Affairs acute and long-term care facilities: A qualitative analysis.

BACKGROUND: Environmental cleaning is important in the interruption of pathogen transmission. Although prevention initiatives have targeted environmental cleaning, practice variations exist and compliance is low. Evaluation of human factors influencing variations in cleaning practices can be valuable in developing interventions to standardized practices. We conducted a work-system analysis using a human-factors engineering (HFE) framework to identify barriers and facilitators to environmental cleaning practices in acute and long-term care settings within the Veterans' Affairs health system. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study with key stakeholders at 3 VA facilities. We analyzed transcripts for thematic content and mapped themes to the HFE framework. RESULTS: Staffing consistency was felt to improve cleaning practices and teamwork. We found that many environmental management service (EMS) staff were veterans who were motivated to serve fellow veterans, especially to prevent infections. However, hiring veterans comes with regulatory hurdles that affect staffing. Sites reported some form of monitoring their cleaning process, but there was variation in method and frequency. The EMS workload was affected by whether rooms were occupied by patients or were semiprivate rooms; both were reportedly more difficult to clean. Room design and surface finishes were identified as important to cleaning efficiency. CONCLUSION: HFE work analysis identified barriers and facilitators to environmental cleaning. These findings highlight intervention entry points that may facilitate standardized work practices. There is a need to develop task-specific procedures such as cleaning occupied beds and semiprivate rooms. Future research should evaluate interventions that address these determinants of environmental cleaning.

"Our job is to break that chain of infection": Challenges environmental management services (EMS) staff face in accomplishing their critical role in infection prevention.

Objectives: Contaminated surfaces in healthcare settings contribute to the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. Adequate environmental cleaning is important for preventing the transmission of important pathogens and reducing healthcare-associated infections. However, effective cleaning practices vary considerably. We examined environmental management services (EMS) staff experiences and perceptions surrounding environmental cleaning to describe perceived challenges and ideas to promote an effective environmental services program. Design: Qualitative study. Participants: Frontline EMS staff. Methods: From January to June 2019, we conducted individual semistructured interviews with key stakeholders (ie, EMS staff) at 3 facilities within the Veterans' Affairs Healthcare System. We used the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework (ie, people, environment, organization, tasks, tools) to guide this study. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for thematic content. Results: In total, 13 EMS staff and supervisors were interviewed. A predominant theme that emerged were the challenges EMS staff saw as hindering their ability to be effective at their jobs. EMS staff interviewed felt they understand their job requirements and are dedicated to their work; however, they described challenges related to feeling undervalued and staffing issues. Conclusions: EMS staff play a critical role in infection prevention in healthcare settings. However, some do not believe their role is recognized or valued by the larger healthcare team and leadership. EMS staff provided ideas for improving feelings of value and job satisfaction, including higher pay, opportunities for certifications and advancement, as well as collaboration or integration with the larger healthcare team. Healthcare organizations should focus on utilizing these suggestions to improve the EMS work climate.

Implementation of the VA Intensive Dysphagia Treatment Program: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Intensive Dysphagia Treatment program serves a critical role in facilitating improvements to quality of care, standardization of outcomes, and increased access to structured therapy for Veterans with dysphagia. It has been implemented at 26 sites nationally and continues expanding. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was utilized for program evaluation to identify barriers and facilitators to implementation as reported by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) participating in the program. All 23 IDT program SLPs were invited to participate in an online survey. SLPs were asked to describe etiologies referred for SLP evaluation, most and least clinically useful program aspects, and characteristics of patients recommended for therapy. Qualitative interviews/focus groups were then conducted with 9 SLPs at 3 facilities with varying levels of program experience. Transcripts underwent systems engineering framework informed deductive thematic analysis. Interview/focus groups revealed overall positive feedback. Barriers included data entry challenges and provider understanding of long-term program goals, while facilitators included program structure enabling increased patient follow-up, outcomes tracking, and training in new treatment modalities. Through this evaluation process, program leadership garnered actionable feedback to improve further implementation of the IDT program. Ongoing efforts will further improve data entry, site onboarding procedures, and program communication.

Effectiveness of Mask-Wearing on Respiratory Illness Transmission in Community Settings: A Rapid Review.

OBJECTIVE: Respiratory illnesses, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have resulted in millions of deaths globally. Guidance on mask-wearing in community settings has been inconsistent. This review examined the effectiveness of mask-wearing on respiratory virus transmission in community settings. METHODS: A search was conducted for English language reports of randomized controlled trials of mask-wearing in the community and effect on laboratory-confirmed respiratory infections or influenza-like illness. Investigators abstracted study characteristics and assessed bias. Meta-analysis was conducted to calculate pooled risk estimates. RESULTS: Eleven studies were included. In 7 studies that evaluated influenza-like illness symptoms as an outcome (3029 participants), this study found mask-wearing associated with a decreased risk of influenza-like illness (overall risk ratio [RR], 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71 to 0.96). Studies examining laboratory-confirmed respiratory infections as an outcome (10,531 participants) showed no statistically significant association between mask-wearing and infections (RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.60-1.80). However, masking combined with enhanced hand hygiene was associated with a decreased risk for both influenza-like illness symptoms (RR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.51-1.51) and laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection (RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.52-1.18). CONCLUSIONS: Masking in community settings decreases transmission of influenza-like illness. Mask-wearing combined with enhanced hand hygiene reduces transmission of influenza-like illness and laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection.

Surgeons' mental models of surgical site infection: Insights into adherence with complex prevention bundles.

Of 10 surgeons interviewed in a descriptive qualitative study, 6 believed that surgical site infections are inevitable. Bundle adherence was felt to be more likely with strong evidence-based measures developed by surgical leaders. The intrinsic desire to excel was viewed as the main adherence motivator, rather than "pay-for-performance" models.

Wisconsin dairy farm worker perceptions and practices related to antibiotic use, resistance, and infection prevention using a systems engineering framework.

We studied farmworker practices and beliefs potentially contributing to transmission of bacteria and their associated antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) among animals and farm workers to identify potential behavioral interventions to reduce the risk of bacterial transmission. Ten focus groups were conducted on eight Wisconsin dairy farms to assess potentially high-risk practices and farmworker knowledge and experiences with antibiotic use and resistance using the Systems Engineering in Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework. Farmworkers were asked to describe common on-farm tasks and the policies guiding these practices. We found workers demonstrated knowledge of the role of antibiotic stewardship in preventing the spread of ARGs. Worker knowledge of various forms of personal protective equipment was higher for workers who commonly reported glove-use. Additionally, workers knowledge regarding the importance of reducing ARG transmission varied but was higher than we had hypothesized. Programs to reduce ARG spread on dairy farms should focus on proper hand hygiene and personal protective equipment use at the level of knowledge, beliefs, and practices.

Feasibility of a pharmacy-led intervention to de-implement non-guideline-concordant proton pump inhibitor use.

BACKGROUND: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most prescribed medications and are often used unnecessarily. PPIs are used for the treatment of heartburn and acid-related disorders. Emerging evidence indicates that PPIs are associated with serious adverse events, such as increased risk of Clostridioides difficile infection. In this study, we designed and piloted a PPI de-implementation intervention among hospitalized non-intensive care unit patients. METHODS: Using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model as the framework, we developed an intervention with input from providers and patients. On a bi-weekly basis, a trainee pharmacist reviewed a random sample of eligible patients' charts to assess if PPI prescriptions were guideline-concordant; a recommendation to de-implement non-guideline-concordant PPI therapy was sent when applicable. We used convergent parallel mixed-methods design to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of the intervention. RESULTS: During the study period (September 2019 to August 2020), 2171 patients with an active PPI prescription were admitted. We randomly selected 155 patient charts for review. The mean age of patients was 70.9 ± 9 years, 97.4% were male, and 35% were on PPIs for ≥5 years. The average time (minutes) needed to complete the intervention was as follows: 5 to assess if the PPI was guideline-concordant, 5 to provide patient education, and 7 to follow-up with patients post-discharge. After intervention initiation, the week-to-week mean number of PPI prescriptions decreased by 0.5 (S<0.0001). Barriers and facilitators spanned the 5 elements of the SEIPS model and included factors such as providers' perception that PPIs are low priority medications and patients' willingness to make changes to their PPI therapy if needed, respectively. Ready access to pharmacists was another frequently reported facilitator to guideline-concordant PPI. Providers recommended a PPI de-implementation intervention that is specific and tells them exactly what they need to do with a PPI treatment. CONCLUSION: In a busy inpatient setting, we developed a feasible way to assess PPI therapy, de-implement non-guideline-concordant PPI use, and provide follow-up to assess any unintended consequences. We documented barriers, facilitators, and provider recommendations that should be considered before implementing such an intervention on a large scale.

Nurse practitioners as antibiotic stewards: Examining prescribing patterns and perceptions.

BACKGROUND: Advanced practice providers in the outpatient setting play a key role in antibiotic stewardship, yet little is known about how to engage these providers in stewardship activities and what factors influence their antibiotic prescribing practices. METHODS: We used mixed methods to obtain data on practices and perceptions related to antibiotic prescribing by nurse practitioners (NP) and Veteran patients. We interviewed NPs working in the outpatient setting at one Veterans Affairs facility and conducted focus groups with Veterans. Emerging themes were mapped to the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety framework. We examined NP antibiotic prescribing data from 2017 to 2019. RESULTS: We interviewed NPs and conducted Veteran focus groups. Nurse practitioners reported satisfaction with resources, including ready access to pharmacists and infectious disease specialists. Building patient trust was reported as essential to prescribing confidence level. Veterans indicated the need to better understand differences between viral and bacterial infections. NP prescribing patterns revealed a decline in antibiotics prescribed for upper respiratory illnesses over a 3-year period. CONCLUSION: Outpatient NPs focus on educating the patient while balancing organizational access challenges. Further research is needed to determine how to include both NPs and patients when implementing outpatient antibiotic stewardship strategies. Further research is also needed to understand factors associated with the decline in nurse practitioner antibiotic prescribing observed in this study.

Integrating antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention and control programs using a team science approach.

Reduction of health care-associated infections is trending in the right direction after decades of work by those involved in infection prevention and control and antibiotic stewardship. With institutional priorities currently pivoting to meet the needs of COVID-19 patients, this may be an advantageous time to promote integration of facility-level antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention and control programs. We propose a team science framework as a tool to leverage the complementary expertise of stewardship and infection prevention and control professionals. This framework considers stages of team development and fluidity needed when working with shifting priorities and can be used by leaders and team members throughout all phases of team building-from developing and launching the team, through evaluating and modifying team activities to best suit local needs.

Implementing daily chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing in VA settings: The human factors engineering to prevent resistant organisms (HERO) project.

BACKGROUND: Daily use of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) has been shown to reduce risk of healthcare-associated infections. We aimed to assess moving CHG bathing into routine practice using a human factors approach. We evaluated implementation in non-intensive care unit (ICU) settings in the Veterans Health Administration. METHODS: Our multiple case study approach included non-ICU units from 4 Veterans Health Administration settings. Guided by the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety, we conducted focus groups and interviews to capture barriers and facilitators to daily CHG bathing. We measured compliance using observations and skin CHG concentrations. RESULTS: Barriers to daily CHG include time, concern of increasing antibiotic resistance, workflow and product concerns. Facilitators include engagement of champions and unit shared responsibility. We found shortfalls in patient education, hand hygiene and CHG use on tubes and drains. CHG skin concentration levels were highest among patients from spinal cord injury units. These units applied antiseptic using 2% CHG impregnated wipes vs 4% CHG solution/soap. DISCUSSION: Non-ICUs implementing CHG bathing must consider human factors and work system barriers to ensure uptake and sustained practice change. CONCLUSIONS: Well-planned rollouts and a unit culture promoting shared responsibility are key to compliance with daily CHG bathing. Successful implementation requires attention to staff education and measurement of compliance.

Use of a systems engineering framework to assess perceptions and practices about antimicrobial resistance of workers on large dairy farms in Wisconsin.

We studied farmworker practices potentially contributing to transmission of bacteria and antimicrobial resistant genes (ARGs) among animals and farm workers to identify human behavioral interventions to reduce exposure risk. Ten focus groups were conducted on eight farms to explore potentially high-risk practices and farmworker knowledge and experiences with antimicrobial use and resistance using the Systems Engineering in Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework. Farmworkers were asked to describe common tasks and the policies guiding these practices. We found workers demonstrated knowledge of the role of antibiotic stewardship in preventing the spread of ARGs. Knowledge of various forms of personal protective equipment was higher for workers who commonly reported glove-use. Knowledge regarding the importance of reducing ARG transmission varied but was greater than previously reported. Programs to reduce ARG spread on dairy farms should focus on proper hand hygiene and personal protective equipment use but at the level of knowledge, beliefs, and practices.

Evaluation of a successful fluoroquinolone restriction intervention among high-risk patients: A mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a quality improvement initiative to restrict fluoroquinolone prescribing on two inpatient units housing high-risk patients and applied a human factors approach to understanding the barriers and facilitators to success of this intervention by front-line providers. METHODS: This was a mixed-methods, quasi-experimental study. This study was conducted on two inpatient units at a tertiary care academic medical center: the medical-surgical intensive care and abdominal solid organ transplant units. Unit-level data were collected retrospectively for 24 months pre- and post- fluoroquinolone restriction intervention, implemented in July 2016, for all admissions to the study units. Our restriction intervention required antimicrobial stewardship pre-approval for fluoroquinolone prescribing. We explored barriers and facilitators to optimal fluoroquinolone prescribing using semi-structured interviews attending, fellow and resident physicians, advanced practice providers and pharmacists on these units. RESULTS: Hospital-onset C. difficile infection did not decrease significantly, but fluoroquinolone use declined significantly from 111.6 to 19.8 days of therapy per 1000 patient-days without negatively impacting length of stay, readmissions or mortality. Third generation cephalosporin and aminoglycoside use increased post-restriction. Providers identified our institution's strong antimicrobial stewardship program and pharmacy involvement in antimicrobial decision making as key facilitators of fluoroquinolone optimization and patient complexity, lack of provider education and organizational culture as barriers to optimal prescribing. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoroquinolones can be safely restricted even among high-risk patients without negatively impacting length of stay, readmissions or mortality. Our study provides a framework for successful antimicrobial stewardship interventions informed by perceptions of front line providers.

Engaging young African American women breast cancer survivors: A novel storytelling approach to identify patient-centred research priorities.

BACKGROUND: Patient-centredness is considered an essential aspiration of a high-quality health-care system, and patient engagement is a critical precursor to patient-centred care. OBJECTIVES: To engage patients, health-care providers and stakeholders in identifying recommendations to address research and practice gaps that impact young African American breast cancer survivors. METHODS: This paper reported an approach for research priority setting. This approach applies an engagement process (January-September 2018) of using patient and stakeholder groups, patient storytelling workshops and a culminating storytelling conference in Wisconsin to generate relevant research topics and recommendations. Topics were prioritized using an iterative engagement process. Research priorities and recommendation were ranked over the conference by counting participants' anonymous votes. RESULTS: One hundred attendees (43 patients/family members, 20 providers/researchers and 37 community members) participated in the conference. Five topics were identified as priorities. The results showed that three priority areas received the most votes, specifically community outreach and education, providing affordable health care and engaging in complementary care practice. Stakeholders also agreed it is critical to 'include youth in the conversation' when planning for cancer support and educational programmes for caregivers, friends and family members. CONCLUSION: Storytelling as a patient engagement approach can build trust in the patient-research partnership, ensure that patients are meaningfully engaged throughout the process and capture the diversity of patient experiences and perspectives.

Correlation of prevention practices with rates of health care-associated Clostridioides difficile infection.

OBJECTIVE: We examined Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) prevention practices and their relationship with hospital-onset healthcare facility-associated CDI rates (CDI rates) in Veterans Affairs (VA) acute-care facilities. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: From January 2017 to February 2017, we conducted an electronic survey of CDI prevention practices and hospital characteristics in the VA. We linked survey data with CDI rate data for the period January 2015 to December 2016. We stratified facilities according to whether their overall CDI rate per 10,000 bed days of care was above or below the national VA mean CDI rate. We examined whether specific CDI prevention practices were associated with an increased risk of a CDI rate above the national VA mean CDI rate. RESULTS: All 126 facilities responded (100% response rate). Since implementing CDI prevention practices in July 2012, 60 of 123 facilities (49%) reported a decrease in CDI rates; 22 of 123 facilities (18%) reported an increase, and 41 of 123 (33%) reported no change. Facilities reporting an increase in the CDI rate (vs those reporting a decrease) after implementing prevention practices were 2.54 times more likely to have CDI rates that were above the national mean CDI rate. Whether a facility's CDI rates were above or below the national mean CDI rate was not associated with self-reported cleaning practices, duration of contact precautions, availability of private rooms, or certification of infection preventionists in infection prevention. CONCLUSIONS: We found considerable variation in CDI rates. We were unable to identify which particular CDI prevention practices (i.e., bundle components) were associated with lower CDI rates.

Exploring leadership within a systems approach to reduce health care-associated infections: A scoping review of one work system model.

BACKGROUND: Despite efforts to prevent health care-associated infections (HAIs), these infections continue to challenge health care systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes implementation of evidence-based practices. Within the complex health care environment, sustained implementation calls for work systems that harness expertise of interprofessional teams, which, in turn, calls for suitable executive, mid-level, and local leadership. The purpose of this review is to highlight the need to study leadership when using a systems approach to reduce HAIs. METHODS: This is a scoping review of HAI studies that used a systems engineering model called the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety model. We examined if and how leadership was addressed within 1 systems approach. RESULTS: We found 15 studies using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety model and, of these, leadership was directly mentioned in 3 studies. In the remaining studies, reference to leadership may be inferred by use of terms such as teamwork, managerial oversight, climate and culture, staffing support, and institutional/administrative support. CONCLUSIONS: Research is needed to bring recognition of the role of leadership within a work systems approach to reducing HAIs. We need further examination of leadership attributes and communication behaviors that allow staff to diffuse and sustain best practices to prevent HAIs.

Engaging patients in health care epidemiology research: A case example.

BACKGROUND: We describe stakeholder engagement from a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute-funded project to identify patients' research priorities for health care-associated infections (HAI). We summarize insights from these activities to highlight feasibility and benefits of stakeholder engagement in health care epidemiology research.Patients and caregivers who had an HAI experience were involved in a patient and caregiver stakeholder group. We engaged clinicians, infection prevention experts, state public health professionals, and quality improvement experts in an institutional stakeholder (IS) group in an academic tertiary care medical center. METHODS: Through individual and combined group activities, we identified stakeholders' HAI research priorities. Existing engagement resources from the Wisconsin Network for Research Support (WINRS) guided the process. RESULTS: Given the patients' and caregivers' experiences with HAIs, their perspectives broadened IS understanding of the impact of HAIs and the relevance of proposed research topics. After introductory activities described here, the patient and caregiver stakeholder group actively engaged with researchers and the IS group in discussing complex systems-level topics to reduce HAIs. We have sustained this engagement through continued collaboration. CONCLUSIONS: Our engagement experience provides one example of how patients can be engaged in health care epidemiology research. Our experiences and lessons learned may be helpful to others interested in stakeholder engagement.

Community pharmacy interventions to improve antibiotic stewardship and implications for pharmacy education: A narrative overview.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic resistance is one of the world's most pressing public health problems, resulting in over 23,000 deaths per year. One of the main contributing factors to antimicrobial resistance is antibiotic misuse and overuse. Community pharmacists can play a role in reducing antibiotic resistance, since they are one of the most accessible healthcare professionals. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to describe community pharmacy interventions and strategies to reduce antibiotic misuse and overuse and to discuss the implications for pharmacy training. METHODS: A narrative overview strategy was employed to identify papers on antibiotic stewardship and the role of the community pharmacist. Our review examined potential stewardship strategies and interventions within community pharmacy practice that provide opportunities for pharmacists to engage or lead in the reduction of antimicrobial resistance. RESULTS: We describe five promising community pharmacist-led intervention strategies: Collaborative Practice Agreements (CPAs), point-of-care (POC) testing, patient consultations, academic detailing and serving as an advocate for patients and other healthcare providers CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights topics that may warrant increased attention in pharmacy school curricula. Pharmacy schools may want to consider modifying their curricula to address the shifts in practice of the community pharmacist - emphasizing the expanded role of the pharmacist in patient care and public health issues such as outpatient antibiotic stewardship.

Patient perceptions of chlorhexidine bathing: A pilot study using the health belief model.

BACKGROUND: Many studies investigating daily chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing as an infection control intervention to decrease health care-associated infections have focused on reduction of infection and colonization; few studies have assessed CHG bathing compliance, work system factors, facilitators, and barriers to implementation. METHODS: This is a combination retrospective/prospective pilot study conducted at a large academic teaching hospital that implemented daily CHG bathing across all inpatient units. CHG compliance and patient refusal were calculated on the basis of documentation in the electronic medical record. We used the health belief model to guide semistructured interviews with patients about knowledge and barriers related to CHG bathing. RESULTS: Of the 31 patients interviewed, 74% reported using CHG soap during their stay. Average compliance documented in the electronic medical record was 78% with a range of 57%-91% among all hospital units. Sixteen percent of patients declined CHG bathing, and refusal ranged from 3%-29% among all units. Major themes about CHG bathing from patient interviews include low perceived susceptibility to infection, high degree of trust in medical professionals, low knowledge of benefits of CHG, and low perceived self-efficacy in preventing HAIs. CONCLUSIONS: Educating patients about CHG bathing appears to be a critical factor in decreasing patient refusal of CHG bathing.

Kamishibai cards to sustain evidence-based practices to reduce healthcare-associated infections.

BACKGROUND: Sustaining healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention practices is complex. We examined the use of Kamishibai Cards (K Cards) as a tool to encourage compliance interactions between leaders and staff. METHODS: We explored one unit of a children's hospital to assess acceptability of K Cards. Interactions were recorded (n = 14), and interviews were conducted (n = 22). We used the Health Belief Model (HBM) for analyses. Central line utilization, bundle compliance and rates of HAIs were also examined. RESULTS: Staff members consider K Card interactions reminders of bundle elements and acceptable for creating positive interactions. Although no causal inference can be made, during K Card implementation, CLABSI rates dropped from 1.83 in 2015 to 0.0 through June 2018. Central line utilization decreased by 3%. DISCUSSION: Moving beyond theory to providing practical sustainability tools is an important implementation step. Although our findings are not generalizable, capturing what occurred on one unit provides opportunity to discover how key leadership factors (communication and leadership style) influence the uptake, acceptability and sustained adoption of evidence-based practices. CONCLUSIONS: K Cards are a practical tool to sustain evidence-based practices and promote communication between leadership and staff - keeping compliance on the minds of frontline workers.