Background Hospital-acquired infections are significant cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients worldwide. Healthcare workers during job are exposed to blood borne pathogens through contact with infected body parts, blood and body fluids. World health organization (WHO) estimated that globally about 2.5% of HIV and 40% of hepatitis viral infected cases are among health workers due to exposures. The most important mechanism of spread of these pathogens is through contaminated hands of the healthcare workers. Standard precautions measures are essential to prevent and control healthcare associated infection among healthcare workers and patients. In developing countries despite the development of detailed guideline for infection control the knowledge of standard precautions is low and not properly applied. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and practice of health care workers regarding standard precautions and hand hygiene to infectious disease control.  Aim The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of health care workers regarding hand wash and standard precautions to control infectious diseases in BMCH. In addition create awareness among participants and encourage them to practice regularly hand hygiene and standard precautions to control or reduce nosocomial infections in health care facilities Methods The study design is cross-sectional evaluation of healthcare worker knowledge and practices about standard precautions and hand hygiene for infectious disease control. A questionnaire administered to health care workers (doctors and nurses). The questionnaire was divided in two parts and the first part concerns demographic information, asking knowledge and practice. The second part asked opinions about risk and prevention of HAIs. The questionnaire was developed with consultation of other studies of the same kind. It has been pre tested and is finalized for survey. The ethical approval was given by hospital superintendent and informs consent from all study participants. Statistic analysis was done on Excel and statistical software SPSS version 20. Data was described in numbers, percentages and Chi Square test done for association among categorical variables, significant level was considered P= <0.05. Results Two hundred questionnaires were distributed to HCWs in BMCH and 169 completely fill questionnaire were returned. The male gender respondents were 42% and female respondents were 58%. The basic questions about knowledge of hand hygiene and standard precautions were answered well in both categories; about 73% were with sufficient knowledge. The practice of hand hygiene and standard precautions was not satisfactory among both categories; about 47% found with good practice. Differences found in sub groups, young age none trained doctors and nurses answered wrong and shown lack of knowledge. This study found an association of age, profession and job experience with knowledge and practice regarding hand hygiene and standard precautions. Open handed questions described well the major issue regarding HAIs and participants emphasized on risk and prevention methods.  Conclusions The respondents were HCWs (doctors and nurses) of both sex and this study found that majority of HCWs have good knowledge and practice about control of HAIs but difference were found in age groups, sex and profession. Above half of the HCWs were not trained for infection control in health facilities, thus getting training of infection control is important but more important is implementation of it during practice.

There is an increase in HIV/AIDS and other blood borne diseases. Health care workers are often exposed to blood and body fluids and thus prone to blood borne infections. Preventative measures can be taken to prevent health workers from contracting these diseases. However, health care workers need to stringently apply these measures. Universal precautions against blood borne infections include diligent hygiene practices, such as hand washing and drying, appropriate handling and disposal of sharp objects, prevention of needle stick or sharp injuries, appropriate handling of patient care equipment and soiled linen, environmental cleaning and spills management, appropriate handling of waste as well as protective clothing such as gloves, gowns, aprons, masks and protective eyewear. This study is aimed at investigating compliance with universal precautions in operating theatres in Northern KwaZulu–Natal as well as perceptions of registered nurses working in these operating theatres regarding factors influencing compliance in order to contribute to measures to limit the risk of infection to patients and health care workers. A sequential explanatory design, mixed–method (quantitative and qualitative) was used to explore the use of universal precautions in operating theatres in the Northern Kwa–Zulu Natal. In the first phase, the sample consisted of practices in operating theatres of six hospitals and one regional hospital in area 3 of Kwa–Zulu Natal. The adapted structured checklist based on an established document developed by the MASA Committee for Science and Education (1995) was pilot tested. The collected data was statistically analysed and interpreted with the help of a statistician using SPSS. The results of Phase 1 were used as a base for the Phase 2 questions. Three focus group interviews were conducted with professional nurses who were observed during Phase 1 at the selected hospitals. Findings from quantitative data show that although health care workers take precautions to prevent infections, they do not attain full compliance to universal precautions. The qualitative data indicated that the reasons for non–compliance amongst others were the lack of knowledge of universal precautions, communication factors, resources, including maintenance of equipment, lack of supplies and shortage of human resources and attitudes of health care workers. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

There is an increase in HIV/AIDS and other blood borne diseases. Health care workers are often exposed to blood and body fluids and thus prone to blood borne infections. Preventative measures can be taken to prevent health workers from contracting these diseases. However, health care workers need to stringently apply these measures. Universal precautions against blood borne infections include diligent hygiene practices, such as hand washing and drying, appropriate handling and disposal of sharp objects, prevention of needle stick or sharp injuries, appropriate handling of patient care equipment and soiled linen, environmental cleaning and spills management, appropriate handling of waste as well as protective clothing such as gloves, gowns, aprons, masks and protective eyewear. This study is aimed at investigating compliance with universal precautions in operating theatres in Northern KwaZulu–Natal as well as perceptions of registered nurses working in these operating theatres regarding factors influencing compliance in order to contribute to measures to limit the risk of infection to patients and health care workers. A sequential explanatory design, mixed–method (quantitative and qualitative) was used to explore the use of universal precautions in operating theatres in the Northern Kwa–Zulu Natal. In the first phase, the sample consisted of practices in operating theatres of six hospitals and one regional hospital in area 3 of Kwa–Zulu Natal. The adapted structured checklist based on an established document developed by the MASA Committee for Science and Education (1995) was pilot tested. The collected data was statistically analysed and interpreted with the help of a statistician using SPSS. The results of Phase 1 were used as a base for the Phase 2 questions. Three focus group interviews were conducted with professional nurses who were observed during Phase 1 at the selected hospitals. Findings from quantitative data show that although health care workers take precautions to prevent infections, they do not attain full compliance to universal precautions. The qualitative data indicated that the reasons for non–compliance amongst others were the lack of knowledge of universal precautions, communication factors, resources, including maintenance of equipment, lack of supplies and shortage of human resources and attitudes of health care workers. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Aim: Thisstudy aimedto investigatethe knowledge and attitudes of healthcareworkers regardinginfluenza, influenza vaccination,and vaccination practicesin emergency departments in Gothenburg, Sweden. Method: This cross-sectional studyuseda self-administered questionnaire distributed tonurses, assistant nurses,and physiciansin three emergency departments atThe Sahlgrenska University Hospital in January–February2014. Results: Among214 participants, 56% were nurses, 27% assistant nurses,and 17% physicians. The response ratewas 77%. A total of 66 participants (31%)werevaccinated against influenza during the previous12 months.The highest vaccination coverage occurredin the oldestage group(56%;P&lt;0.05).Past vaccinationstrongly predicted future vaccinationbehavior (P&lt;0.001). Ourdata revealed nosignificant difference invaccination coverage betweenprofession, work experience, hospital,or gender. The mean knowledge score was higher among vaccinated vs. unvaccinated health care workers (17.9 ± 2.7vs.16.8 ± 2.6, respectively; P&lt; 0.05). Moreover, influenza risk perception was higher among participants who were vaccinated during the previous12 months compared to unvaccinated participants (P&lt; 0.001). Interestingly, more un vaccinated health care workers believed that personal behavior determines health (higher internal locus of control) compared to vaccinated workers(P&lt; 0.05). More than half of vaccinated health care workers stated that they got vaccinated to avoid influenza. Almost half of the unvaccinated workers voiced concern about vaccine side effects. Fourteen percent of all respondents mentioned patient protection as an important factor in their decision to receive influenza vaccination. Conclusion:This study demonstrates a need for improved knowledge about influenza and influenza vaccinationin health care workers. Increased risk perception of influenza can increase vaccination coverage in emergency department personnel,and may reduce the incidence of healthcare-associated influenza. / <p>ISBN 978-91-86739-77-5</p>

Bakgrund: Uppkomsten av vårdrelaterade infektioner (VRI) är ett globalt problem. Den vanligaste smittvägen är via personalens händer. Bra handhygien är väsentligt för att minska VRI. Med bättre följsamhet till handhygien kan uppkomsten av VRI minskas, därför har forskning om följsamhet till handhygien och faktorer som inverkar, stort betydelse. Syfte: Syftet var att sammanställa och beskriva aktuell forskning om sjuksköterskors följsamhet till handhygien och vilka faktorer främjar respektive hindrar följsamheten till handhygien. Metod: En litteraturöversikt som baserades på artiklar publicerade de senaste fem åren, från länder som följer Världshälsoorganisationens (WHO) handhygieniska riktlinjer. Sexton artiklar valdes efter kvalitetsgranskning för analys och beskrivning. Artiklarna bearbetades med innehållsanalys. Resultat: Sjuksköterskors följsamhet till handhygien var låg. Följande främjande faktorer identifierades: handhygien efter patientkontakt, materialtillgång, förebilder, utbildning, verbala och visuella påminnelser, positiva individuella attityder, kvinnlig könstillhörighet, yrkesgrupp, specialitet, patientens skydd, arbetskultur och samhällets inställning till handhygien. Följande hindrande faktorer identifierades: hög arbetsbelastning, bristande utbildning, kunskapsbrist, individuella attityder, hudpåverkan, materialtillgång, arbetskultur och samhällets inställning till handhygien, manlig könstillhörighet, yrkesgrupp, specialitet. Slutsats: Enligt resultat rekommenderas: samspelet med kollegor och patienter, stöd av teamarbete ledare, förebilder, materialtillgång, utbildning, påminnelser, intervention med tillgång till information, stöd, resurser och möjligheter för regelbunden kunskapsuppföljning, motivera till handhygien före patientkontakt, involvera patienter. / Background: The emergence of healthcare-associated infections (VRI) is a global problem. The most common route of transmission is via the staff's hands. Good hand hygiene is essential for reducing VRI. With better adherence to hand hygiene, the emergence of VRI is reduced, therefore, research on adherence to hand hygiene and factors affecting, big importance. Aim: The aim was to compile and describe current research on nurses ' adherence to hand hygiene and what factors promote or hinder the adherence to hand hygiene. Method: A literature review based on articles published in the last five years, from countries that follow the World Health Organisation (WHO) hand hygiene guidelines. Sixteen articles were selected for quality review of analysis and description. The items were processed with content analysis. Results: nurses ' adherence to handhygiene was low. Promoting factors was handhygiene after patient contact, materials access, role models, training, verbal and visual reminders, positive individual attitudes, gender, profession, specialty, patient protection, work culture and society's attitudes to handhygiene. Limiting factors: high workload, lack of education, lack of knowledge, individual attitudes, skin effects, materials access, work culture and society's attitudes to handhygiene, sex, profession, specialty. Conclusion: According to the results is folowing recommended : the interaction with colleagues and patients, support of team work leaders, role models, materials access, education, reminders, intervention with access to information, support, resources and opportunities for regular knowledge track, justify to handhygiene prior to patient contact, involve patients.

Objective: To examine the perception of patient safety culture amongst health care workers in Libyan Hospitals. Study Design: The study adopted a mixed methods approach with 2 phases. Phase 1 was conducted prior to the Libyan revolution. This was a quantitative research study, which used the Survey of Hospital Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) that was developed by the US Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ, 2004). Phase 2 was conducted post revolution and it was a qualitative research study, which used semi-structured interviews. Setting: The three largest hospitals which were located in the Northeast of Libya were involved in the study. Participants and sampling: Phase 1 of the study included a stratified sample of 346 health care workers who were working as Doctors, Nurses, Technicians, Pharmacists and Managers. Phase 2 of the study used a purposeful sample which involved 27 health care workers from those took part in the survey study. Main Outcome Measures: The survey measured twelve Patient Safety Culture dimensions. It indicated that ten of the twelve dimensions were weak and need to be improved. The interview findings also showed that the 12 patient safety culture dimensions were very weak and shed light on some of the reasons for this sub-optimal practice. Findings: The respondents who took part in the study were from different departments in the three hospitals. The survey showed the dimensions with acceptable positive ratings were teamwork within hospitals and organizational learning and continuous improvement, while those with lowest ratings included frequency of reporting errors, non-punitive response to error and communication and openness. Approximately 60% of health care workers perceived patient safety culture practice in Libya negatively. Twenty respondents (5.8%) who gave an excellent grade for patient safety in their hospitals. Furthermore, the interviews results revealed that patient safety culture dimensions were very weak. The interview explored further factors and issues of poor safety culture in the 3 hospitals; which had not been identified in the survey. These were related to results of the political changes, administrative factors, environmental issues, organisational system issues, and health care workers matters. Conclusions: The study identified that the current state of patient safety culture in Libyan hospitals is very weak and there is a need for improvement to safety practice and for promotion of this important issue amongst those health care workers and health managers working at the frontline of health care delivery. Furthermore, the study found that the level of patient safety in the 3 hospitals was below an unacceptable level according to the perceptions of the health care staff. It was noted that there was no effective patient safety system in any of the 3 hospitals to deal with patient safety issues and there were no proactive patient safety measures in place to reduce the level of risk to patients. Furthermore, the study revealed other significant aspects that represent a serious threat to patient safety in the 3 hospitals, which were mainly due to poor hospital management, ineffective emergency services and a lack of training programmes. Moreover, poor organisation of monitoring systems for the licensing of medical practice of health care workers was shown to have a significant impact on patient safety culture. Lastly, the study showed the political change in Libya had affected patients’ safety sharply as result of the military conflict and the lack of hospitals’ preparedness to cope with such emergency events.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-04-20Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:59:24Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 braga_lc_me_botfm_prot.pdf: 1494494 bytes, checksum: d6f4463b7f3357dd599df502be0fa068 (MD5) / Vários estudos revelam que os transtornos mentais comuns (TMC) apresentam elevada prevalência em populações comuns e de trabalhadores, dentre os quais, os profissionais de saúde. Trata-se de transtornos com conseqüências individuais e sociais importantes. Os objetivos deste estudo consistiram em estimar a prevalência de TMC em trabalhadores da saúde e investigar possíveis associações com variáveis sócio-demográficas, satisfação no trabalho e situação demanda / controle / suporte. Trata-se de estudo transversal, descritivo, efetuado junto à população de servidores da rede básica de saúde de Botucatu - SP. A coleta de informações, executada de abril a outubro de 2006, foi efetuada por meio de questionário auto-aplicável, não identificado, composto por 92 questões. Dentre estas, havia sub-conjuntos de perguntas, com destaque para itens abordando satisfação no trabalho, demanda / controle / suporte e presença de sintomas de transtorno mental comum (Self Reporling Questionnaire, SRQ-20). As informações foram inseridas em banco de dados construído com o programa Excel / Office XP 2003 e as análises estatísticas foram efetuadas por meio do pacote estatístico SAS. Constatou-se que 42,6% dos servidores apresentavam transtorno mental comum. Encontrou-se associação entre TMC e: (a) atividade profissional com escolaridade média e com escolaridade superior; (b) unidades a que pertenciam os servidores; (c) situação relativa à demanda / controle; (d) as pontuações relativas às demandas psicológicas no trabalho discriminaram melhor a ocorrência de TMC (método da árvore de classificação e de regressão para análise de relações entre variáveis). No tocante à satisfação no trabalho, 71,2% dos servidores tiveram pontuações que os enquadraram em muito satisfeitos e satisfeitos com o trabalho... / Many studies have shown that common mental disorders (CMD) have high prevalence among general population and workers, especially health care workers. These are mental disorders which have important individual and social consequences. The objectives of the present study were estimate the prevalence of CMD among primary health care workers, and investigate possible associations with social-demographic variables, job satisfaction, and demand ! control! support situation. This transversal and descriptive study was carried out on Primary Care workers of Botucatu - SP. The data were collected, from April to October of 2006, using one anonymous autoaplicable questionnaire composed of 92 questions. Among these questions there were a sub-group of questions related to job satisfaction, demand ! control! support situation, and presence of CMD symptoms (Self Reporling Questionnaire, SRQ-20). The data were stored using the software Excel! Office XP 2003, and the statistical analyses were performed in SAS system. It was observed that 42,6% of the health care workers presented CMD symptoms. It was also noticed an association among CMD and: (a) activities of secondary and graduation; (b) Heath care unit of work; (c) Demand ! control situation; (d) Psychological requirements at work Date-related points best discriminated the occurrence of CMD (c1assification and regression tree method to analyze the relationship among the variables). For job satisfaction 71,2% of the workers considered to be content or very content with their work. Job satisfaction was related to: (a) the work period is the most important period of the day; (b) possibility to continue working with the same job during next years; (c) degree of work interference with personal and family life. The lack of respect and verbal aggressions, lack of comprehension from patients/users of the Service, and...( Complete abstract click eletronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:30:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Michelle Cristina Guerreiro dos Reis.pdf: 617682 bytes, checksum: a9f91c7541dba56bdf16a1188367288a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-12-12 / Tuberculosis (TB), one of the oldest disease in the world, is until our days a public health concern. It s believed that one third of the world s population is latently infected. Brazil is an endemic area for TB and its incidence in 2005 was about 60 cases per 100.000 inhabitants. One of the most important challenge in TB control is the identification of individuals who are latent infected. Health Care Workers (HCW) are at high risk of getting infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and because of that they had increased chances to became ill. The aim of this work was to elucidate the sorological profile of latent infected HCW through the antibody response against proteic recombinant antigens from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, GLcB, Hspx and MPT51. It was observed that almost 70% of HCW presented antibodies (IgM and IgG) against these antigens. When IgM was measured, the negative TST HCW showed higher antibodies s levels than the positive TST HCW. When IgG was measured, negative and positive TST HCW showed similar antibodies´s levels. Men and women also showed similar antibodies´s levels against those antigens. The antibodies s levels were also similar between BCG-vaccinated and BCG non-vaccinated HCW, the same occurs among the different professional categories. There isn t any relation between the antibody responses (humoral response) and TST results (cellular response). These results showed that the majority of the HCW presented antibodies against the proteic recombinant antigens GLcB, Hspx e MPT51 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis independent of the TST response. / A tuberculose (TB) é uma das doenças mais antigas do mundo e permanece até os dias atuais como um problema de saúde pública. Estima-se que um terço da população mundial está infectada. O Brasil é considerado área endêmica da TB e em 2005 apresentou taxe de incidência de 60 casos a cada 100.000 habitantes. Atualmente um dos principais desafios no controle da tuberculose é a identificação dos portadores latentes. Trabalhadores da área da saúde são expostos a um alto risco de infecção e por isso têm aumentadas as chances de se tornarem portadores latentes. Com intuito de elucidar o perfil sorológico de portadores latentes, avaliamos a resposta imune humoral de trabalhadores da área da saúde frente a antígenos recombinantes do Mycobacterium tuberculosis, GLcB, Hspx e MPT51, utilizando a técnica do ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA). Constatou-se que quase 70% dos trabalhadores da saúde apresentaram anticorpos contra tais antígenos. Nas dosagens de IgM apenas naquela contra o Hspx os trabalhadores da saúde prova tuberculínica (PT) negativa apresentaram níveis de anticorpos superiores aos dos trabalhadores PT positiva. Nas dosagens de IgG trabalhadores PT negativa ou positiva apresentaram níveis semelhantes de anticorpos. Homens e mulheres apresentaram níveis similares de anticorpos (IgM ou IgG) contra os antígenos recombinantes. Os níveis de anticorpos de indivíduos BCGvacinados e BCG-não-vacinados também foram semelhantes, bem como entre indivíduos de diferentes categorias profissionais, independentemente da classe da imunoglobulina testada. Não houve correlação entre nível de anticorpo (resposta humoral) e o resultado da prova tuberculínica dos trabalhadores da saúde (resposta celular). Os resultados deste trabalho permitem concluir que os trabalhadores da área da saúde reconhecem os antígenos protéicos recombinantes GLcB, Hspx e MPT51 do Mycobacterium tuberculosis independentemente de reação à prova tuberculínica.

Knowledge translation describes the process of getting knowledge into practice, leading to a healthy workforce and economy. Knowledge translation is particularly challenging at the primary healthcare level, which manifests as a research to practice gap. This research aimed to explore and describe knowledge translation from both a knowledge translation organisation’s and knowledge user’s point of view at the South African primary healthcare level. A qualitative dominant, mixed methods approach was used. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine organisations to evaluate their knowledge translation strategies. An online survey collected responses from primary healthcare workers to assess their knowledge needs and preferences. Lastly, the Thinking Processes of Theory of Constraints were applied to the public sector to identify ways in which knowledge translation can be optimised within the Department of Health system. This research found that the organisations’ strategies were inextricably linked to the knowledge translation context. Barriers to knowledge translation in the public and private sector as well as urban and rural areas differed in many respects. Organisations were successful in overcoming many of these barriers, but barriers that reside at the Department of Health (DOH) policy level, remain difficult to address. The 82 survey respondents were mostly doctors from the urban private sector. They represented a distinct subset of practitioners who preferred using the internet to access knowledge and identified no significant barriers to staying up to date. The Thinking Processes identified possible solutions to getting new DOH guidelines into practice in a fast, reliable and coordinated manner. This requires increased collaboration between knowledge translation organisations and the DOH as well as the design of a system for updating the DOH guidelines on an annual basis. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / ccgibs2014 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / Tuberculosis is the world’s leading cause of death from a single infective agent. The World Health Organisation has declared the disease a “global emergency”. Extrapulmonary presentations form a major proportion of new cases, especially since the advent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic. Therefore, it is important that oral health care workers are aware of tuberculosis in the head and neck region and its varied manifestations. This study reports on one hundred and four patients diagnosed with tuberculosis and with head and neck tuberculosis lesions.The aim of the study was to determine the extent to which tuberculosis presents in the head and neck region. It was a descriptive, retrospective, record-based study on a cohort of tuberculosis patients that presented with head and neck tuberculosis at private practices in the Durban area over a fourteen month period. A structured data capture sheet was the method chosen for recording the data.The majority of the sample (89.4%) had tuberculosis of the head and neck lymph nodes, five (4.8%) had tuberculosis of the tonsil, two (1.9%) had tuberculosis of the larynx, two (1.9%) had tuberculosis of the ear, one (1%) had parotid gland tuberculosis and one (1%) had tuberculosis of the nose. The records indicate that excision biopsy and histopathological examinations were used to make a diagnosis. A third (33.7%) of the patients were confirmed with human immunodeficiency virus infection.A high index of suspicion of tuberculosis is important in the differential diagnosis of neck swellings, hoarseness and otorrhoea and in human immunodeficiency virus positive patients with an enlarging neck mass. A biopsy is usually necessary for diagnosis. Successful outcome depends upon appropriate chemotherapy and timely surgical intervention when necessary. Oral health care workers need to be fully cognizant of all the various presentations of head and neck tuberculosis to allow early diagnosis and quick commencement of appropriate treatment.