National hand hygiene campaigns in Europe, 2000-2009.

Hand hygiene represents the single most effective way to prevent healthcare-associated infections. The World Health Organization, as part of its First Global Patient Safety Challenge, recommends implementation of multi-faceted strategies to increase compliance with hand hygiene. A questionnaire was sent by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to 30 European countries, regarding the availability and organisation of their national hand hygiene campaigns. All countries responded. Thirteen countries had organised at least one national campaign during the period 2000-2009 and three countries were in the process of organising a national campaign. Although the remaining countries did not have a national campaign, several reported regional and local hand hygiene activities or educational resources on national websites.

[The Spanish National Health System patient safety strategy, results for the period 2005-2007]. / Resultados de la estrategia en seguridad del paciente del Sistema Nacional de Salud español, período 2005-2007.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In 2005 the Spanish National Health System (SNHS) implemented a strategy aimed at improving patient safety in Spanish healthcare centres. SPECIFIC AIMS: Promote and develop knowledge of patient safety and a patient safety culture among health professionals and patients; design and implement adverse event information and reporting systems for learning purposes; introduce recommended safe practices in SNHS centres; promote patient safety research and public and patient involvement in patient safety policies. MATERIAL AND METHOD: An Institutional Technical Committee was created with representatives from all the Spanish regions. All national organizations involved in healthcare quality and patient safety took part in the project. The strategy follows the WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety and Council of Europe recommendations. Budget allocated in the period 2005-2007: approximately EUR35 million. RESULTS: Around 5,000 health professionals were educated in PS concepts. Several studies were conducted on: adverse events in Hospitals and Primary Care, as well as studies to obtain information on health professionals' perceptions on safety, the use of medications and the situation regarding hospital-acquired infections. All the regions have introduced safe clinical practices related with the strategy. CONCLUSIONS: The strategy has been implemented in all the Spanish regions. Awareness was raised among health professionals and the public. A network of alliances has been set up with the regions, universities, schools, agencies and other organizations supporting the strategy.

[Strategic measures for patient safety in the National Health System: on-line training resources and access to scientific knowledge]. / Acciones estratégicas en seguridad del paciente para el Sistema Nacional de Salud. Recursos on-line en formación y acceso al conocimiento científico.

INTRODUCTION: Patient safety (PS) is a priority strategy included in the Quality Plan for the Spanish National Health System and its first objective is to promote PS culture among professionals and patients. The Internet is playing a key role in the access to clinical evidence and in the training of health professionals. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A multidisciplinary working group was created, who defined the criteria to help improve clinical practice in the field of patient safety, by making available and using web-based patient safety training resources and information. RESULTS: Taking advantage of the possibilities offered by the Internet in terms of training, two online self-training tutorials were developed on risk management, patient safety and adverse event prevention. A Newsletter was also launched, together with two specific patient safety Supplements. Moreover, to extend the reach of the PS Strategy, a patient safety web page and weblog were created, in addition to a collaborative (internal) working group tool. Excelenciaclinica.net was also developed; a meta-search engine specialized in evidence-based information for health professionals, to make it easier to access reliable and valuable information. Health professionals were also allowed to consult, free of charge, reliable health information resources, such as the GuiaSalud platform, the Cochrane Library Plus and the resources of the Joanna Briggs Institute. CONCLUSIONS: The involvement of health professionals in these measures and the role that these measures may be expected to play in the development of a premium-quality health service.