[How to increase the health staff adherence to the hands hygiene protocol?] / ¿Cómo incrementar la adhesión del personal sanitario al protocolo de higiene de manos?

OBJECTIVE: Nosocomial infection is a frequent adverse event in health care. Hand hygiene (HH) reduces cross-transmission, but staff adherence is not always adequate. The objectives of this work were evaluating the effectiveness of the HH technique applied in the workplace and monitoring the adherence of the healthcare staff of a Hospital of Medium-Long Stay to the HH protocol. METHODS: Two cross sectional studies were carried out (2010-2012), to determine the prevalence of colonization of the hands of the staff by pathogenic microorganisms, a cross-sectional study (2015), to evaluate their knowledge of the HH technique and two cross-sectional studies (2015-2016), to evaluate the compliance of the protocol in the healthcare practice. The WHO Self-Assessment Framework was applied annually. The hydroalcoholic solution consumption was monitored as a process indicator. RESULTS: The prevalence of colonization of the staff hands went from 28.3% to 21.2%. Compliance with hand hygiene went from 39.5% to 72% and the results of the WHO Self-Assessment Framework went from an intermediate level with 287.5 points to an advanced level with 432.5 points. The consumption of hydroalcoholic solution went from 3.9 to 19.3 liters/1000 stays. CONCLUSIONS: Staff adherence to the HH protocol has increased, having significantly improved the compliance with the recommendations, the hydroalcoholic solution consumption and the HH level assigned to the hospital. The most effective measures to improve the results have been the development of specific improvement plans, having been decisive, the involvement of managers and the use of direct observation as a regular method of work.

OBJETIVO: La infección nosocomial es un evento adverso frecuente en la atención sanitaria. La higiene de manos (HM) reduce la transmisión cruzada, pero la adhesión del personal no siempre es adecuada. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron evaluar la efectividad de la técnica de HM aplicada en el lugar de trabajo y monitorizar la adhesión del personal sanitario de un Hospital de Media-Larga Estancia al protocolo de HM. METODOS: Se realizaron dos cortes transversales (2010-2012), para conocer la prevalencia de colonización de las manos del personal por microorganismos patógenos, un estudio transversal (2015), para evaluar sus conocimientos sobre la técnica de HM y dos estudios observacionales (2015-2016) para evaluar el cumplimiento del protocolo en la práctica asistencial. Se aplicó anualmente el Marco de Autoevaluación de la OMS. Como indicador de proceso se monitorizó el consumo de solución hidroalcohólica. El análisis estadístico se realizó con el programa SPSS, versión 19.0. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de colonización pasó del 28,3% al 21,2%. El cumplimiento de la HM pasó del 39,5% al 72%. Aplicando el Marco de Autoevaluación de la OMS se pasó de un nivel intermedio con 287,5 puntos a un nivel avanzado con 432,5 puntos. El consumo de solución hidroalcohólica pasó de 3,9 a 19,3 litros/1000 estancias. CONCLUSIONES: La adhesión al protocolo ha aumentado, habiendo mejorado significativamente el cumplimiento de las recomendaciones, el consumo de solución hidroalcohólica y el Nivel de HM asignado al hospital. Las medidas más eficaces para mejorar los resultados han sido la elaboración de planes de mejora específicos, habiendo sido decisiva la implicación de los directivos y el uso de la observación directa como método habitual de trabajo.

¿Cómo incrementar la adhesión del personal sanitario al protocolo de higiene de manos? / How to increase the health staff adherence to the hands hygiene protocol?

Fundamentos: La infección nosocomial es un evento adverso frecuente en la atención sanitaria. La higiene de manos (HM) reduce la transmisión cruzada, pero la adhesión del personal no siempre es adecuada. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron evaluar la efectividad de la técnica de HM aplicada en el lugar de trabajo y monitorizar la adhesión del personal sanitario de un Hospital de Media-Larga Estancia al protocolo de HM. Métodos: Se realizaron dos cortes transversales (2010-2012), para conocer la prevalencia de colonización de las manos del personal por microorganismos patógenos, un estudio transversal (2015), para evaluar sus conocimientos sobre la técnica de HM y dos estudios observacionales (2015-2016) para evaluar el cumplimiento del protocolo en la práctica asistencial. Se aplicó anualmente el Marco de Autoevaluación de la OMS. Como indicador de proceso se monitorizó el consumo de solución hidroalcohólica. El análisis estadístico se realizó con el programa SPSS, versión 19.0. Resultados: La prevalencia de colonización pasó del 28,3% al 21,2%. El cumplimiento de la HM pasó del 39,5% al 72%. Aplicando el Marco de Autoevaluación de la OMS se pasó de un nivel intermedio con 287,5 puntos a un nivel avanzado con 432,5 puntos. El consumo de solución hidroalcohólica pasó de 3,9 a 19,3 litros/1000 estancias. Conclusiones: La adhesión al protocolo ha aumentado, habiendo mejorado significativamente el cumplimiento de las recomendaciones, el consumo de solución hidroalcohólica y el Nivel de HM asignado al hospital. Las medidas más eficaces para mejorar los resultados han sido la elaboración de planes de mejora específicos, habiendo sido decisiva la implicación de los directivos y el uso de la observación directa como método habitual de trabajo

Background: Nosocomial infection is a frequent adverse event in health care. Hand hygiene (HH) reduces cross-transmission, but staff adhe-rence is not always adequate. The objectives of this work were evaluating the effectiveness of the HH technique applied in the workplace and monitoring the adherence of the healthcare staff of a Hospital of Medium-Long Stay to the HH protocol. Methods: Two cross sectional studies were carried out (2010-2012), to determine the prevalence of colonization of the hands of the staff by pathogenic microorganisms, a cross-sectional study (2015), to evaluate their knowledge of the HH technique and two cross-sectional studies (2015-2016), to evaluate the compliance of the protocol in the healthcare practice. The WHO Self-Assessment Framework was applied annually. The hydroalcoholic solution consumption was monitored as a process indicator. Results: The prevalence of colonization of the staff hands went from 28.3% to 21.2%. Compliance with hand hygiene went from 39.5% to 72% and the results of the WHO Self-Assessment Framework went from an intermediate level with 287.5 points to an advanced level with 432.5 points. The consumption of hydroalcoholic solution went from 3.9 to 19.3 liters/1000 stays. Conclusions: Staff adherence to the HH protocol has increased, ha-ving significantly improved the compliance with the recommendations, the hydroalcoholic solution consumption and the HH level assigned to the hospital. The most effective measures to improve the results have been the development of specific improvement plans, having been decisive, the involvement of managers and the use of direct observation as a regular method of work

[Why do patients use hospital emergency services on their own initiative?]. / Por qué los pacientes utilizan los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios por iniciativa propia?

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the reasons why patients use hospital emergency services (HES) on their own initiative and the characteristics of these users. METHOD: An ad hoc questionnaire was designed and applied by consecutive selection to patients who could have waited for medical care (level 1 triage) over a 1-week period in November 2002. RESULTS: A total of 348 patients completed the questionnaire; 82.5% attended on their own initiative; of these, 17.7% reported they did not know how Primary Care worked in relation to the Emergency Services; 18.8% consulted a Primary Care physician; 55.0% preferred the HES and 13.5% attended because of a delay in another health care setting. Half the patients (50.5%) were younger than 40 years old and 9.2% were foreigners. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in health services' consumption patterns could jeopardize the public health system unless supply is adapted to the demand expressed and/or interventions are performed to educate the public in rational health services' consumption.

¿Por qué los pacientes utilizan los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios por iniciativa propia? / Why do patients use hospital emergency services on their own initiative?

Introducción: Se pretende describir el perfil de usuario y determinar su motivación para visitar el servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH) por iniciativa propia. Método: Se elaboró un cuestionario ad hoc que se aplicó por selección consecutiva a los pacientes que podían esperar asistencia (nivel 1 del triage) durante una semana de noviembre de 2002. Resultados: Respondieron el cuestionario 348 pacientes, acudiendo por iniciativa propia el 82,5%. De éstos, el 17,7% desconocía el funcionamiento de atención primaria respecto a urgencias; el 18,8% consultó con su centro de salud; el 55,0% refirió preferencia por el SUH y el 13,5% acudió por demora en otros niveles asistenciales. El 50,5% era menor de 40 años y el 9,2%, extranjero. Conclusiones: Los cambios en el patrón de consumo de servicios sanitarios pueden comprometer la organización del Sistema Nacional de Salud, si no se adapta la oferta a la necesidad expresada y/o se interviene modulando el uso racional de los recursos sanitarios

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the reasons why patients use hospital emergency services (HES) on their own initiative and the characteristics of these users. Method: An ad hoc questionnaire was designed and applied by consecutive selection to patients who could have waited for medical care (level 1 triage) over a 1-week period in November 2002. Results: A total of 348 patients completed the questionnaire; 82.5% attended on their own initiative; of these, 17.7% reported they did not know how Primary Care worked in relation to the Emergency Services; 18.8% consulted a Primary Care physician; 55.0% preferred the HES and 13.5% attended because of a delay in another health care setting. Half the patients (50.5%) were younger than 40 years old and 9.2% were foreigners. Conclusions: Changes in health services' consumption patterns could jeopardize the public health system unless supply is adapted to the demand expressed and/or interventions are performed to educate the public in rational health services' consumption

[Appropriateness of the utilization of an emergency department]. / Adecuación de la demanda de atención sanitaria en servicios de urgencias hospitalarios.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The increase in the demand of clinical attention in emergency departments justifies the need to evaluate its adequacy to the population health needs requiring emergency attention. The objective of this study is to evaluate the adequacy of patients' visits to the emergency departments of a third level hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Descriptive study with analytic components. Random sample: 499 medical reports of patients treated in the Emergency Department. The HUAP (Appropriateness Hospital Emergencies Protocol) protocol was applied. We carried out a descriptive analysis of the sample, a relation analysis and finally we carried out a multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: 30.7% visits were inadequate. The higher percentage of inappropriateness was found in subjects younger than 40 years (44%); in those without chronic pathology (53.3%) and in those who came spontaneously (88.4%). Half of the appropriate visits owed, exclusively, to achieving "diagnostic tests" criteria. CONCLUSIONS: The Appropriateness Hospital Emergencies Protocol allowed to identify two population groups. It is necessary to implement strategies to change the health services offer, adapted to the differences found and taking into account the increase in the appropriate demand.