Department of Neonatology, Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Department of Neonatology, Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore; Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
J Hosp Infect. 2024 Apr;146:44-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2023.11.025. Epub 2024 Jan 25.
Implementation of waterless care, including removal of sinks from patient care areas, is an emerging approach to reduce waterborne infections in high-risk areas such as intensive care units (ICUs). This approach, however, requires significant changes from traditional infection control practices and acceptance by healthcare workers (HCWs) for successful transition.
To explore the knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAPs), and perceived challenges of HCWs who transitioned from working in a unit with standard infection control practices to one with waterless ICU care practices.
The study was conducted using a customized 30-item self-reported survey instrument administered to HCWs working in tertiary neonatal units at a single hospital.
Participation rate was 88.6% (101/114), comprising 66.3% (67/101) nurses, 31.0% (31/101) doctors, and 3.0% (3/101) allied health professionals; 90.1% (91/101) had positive attitudes and 53.5% (54/101) had good knowledge regarding waterless ICU care; 83.1% (84/101) followed the appropriate practice of hand hygiene when their hands were visibly soiled. Main challenges with waterless ICU care were perceived compromise of personal (46.5% (47/101)) and patient (22.8% (23/101)) hygiene. A total of 43.6% (44/101) reported an increase in skin-related conditions: 10.9% (11/101) had to visit a doctor for this reason, of whom 64.0% (7/11) had pre-existing skin conditions.
Despite overall good attitudes and practices toward waterless ICU care, HCWs may have specific concerns related to hygiene and skin conditions which need to be addressed. For units transiting to waterless ICU care, similar surveys may provide valuable information by identifying gaps in KAP to improve compliance.
无水护理的实施，包括将水槽从患者护理区域移除，是减少重症监护病房（ICU）等高危区域水传播感染的一种新兴方法。然而，这种方法需要对传统感染控制措施进行重大改变，并得到医护人员的认可，才能成功过渡。
探索从采用标准感染控制措施的病房过渡到采用无水 ICU 护理措施的病房的医护人员的知识、态度、实践（KAP）和感知挑战。
该研究使用定制的 30 项自我报告调查问卷，对一家医院的三级新生儿病房的医护人员进行调查。
参与率为 88.6%（101/114），包括 66.3%（67/101）护士、31.0%（31/101）医生和 3.0%（3/101）辅助卫生专业人员；90.1%（91/101）对无水 ICU 护理有积极的态度，53.5%（54/101）对无水 ICU 护理有良好的知识；83.1%（84/101）在手部明显弄脏时遵循适当的手部卫生实践。无水 ICU 护理的主要挑战是个人（46.5%（47/101））和患者（22.8%（23/101））卫生的感知妥协。共有 43.6%（44/101）报告皮肤相关疾病增加：10.9%（11/101）因此不得不看医生，其中 64.0%（7/11）有先前存在的皮肤状况。
尽管医护人员对无水 ICU 护理总体持良好的态度和实践，但他们可能对卫生和皮肤状况存在具体关注，需要加以解决。对于过渡到无水 ICU 护理的病房，类似的调查可以通过识别 KAP 中的差距提供有价值的信息，以提高依从性。
