Patient awareness of healthcare-associated infection risk and prevention: Has there been a change in 3 decades (1989-2019)?

ABSTRACT

Using a 1989 baseline study, we surveyed 1,004 US consumers in 2019 on education and awareness of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) risk and prevention. Awareness of HAI risk remains unchanged (62% vs 65%) but belief HAIs are preventable dropped (83% vs 28%). Medical professionals and the internet are top information sources.