TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding patient and healthcare worker experiences and perspectives of multidrug-resistant organisms
AU - Watson, Eliza
AU - Tsindos, Tess
AU - Peleg, Anton Y.
AU - Bass, Pauline
AU - Stewardson, Andrew J.
AU - Ayton, Darshini
AU - Peel, Trisha
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by internal funding. T. Peel is supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Career Development Fellowship (APP1140350). A. J. Stewardson is supported by the NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (GNT1141398).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.
PY - 2023/6/1
Y1 - 2023/6/1
N2 - Objectives: Transmission of MDR organisms (MROs) such as carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) and VRE in healthcare facilities is a major issue globally. Knowledge gaps exist, including the impact of these microorganisms on patients, and healthcare worker understanding of infection control approaches for MROs. This study aimed to explore patient and healthcare worker experiences and perspectives of MROs. Methods: A sequential exploratory mixed-methods study was performed at a large metropolitan acute and subacute hospital. This involved semi-structured face-to-face interviews with patients with confirmed MROs to explore their understanding of these microorganisms and perceptions of their time in hospital. Healthcare workers participated in an online survey about their understanding of MROs and the care of patients with these microorganisms. Qualitative data were analysed using the COM-B framework, and were triangulated with the descriptive quantitative analysis. Results: The overarching theme from the triangulated data was uncertainty amongst both patients and staff about MROs. Insufficient explanations from staff left patients lacking a proper understanding of their diagnosis, and patients felt that staff did not always follow isolation protocols. Staff felt they did not receive enough education on MROs. However, patients felt that the overall care they received was very good, and most valued the privacy gained from being in isolation. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that there is a need to focus on new strategies of communication with patients and staff education to improve understanding of MROs and increase adherence to protocols.
AB - Objectives: Transmission of MDR organisms (MROs) such as carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) and VRE in healthcare facilities is a major issue globally. Knowledge gaps exist, including the impact of these microorganisms on patients, and healthcare worker understanding of infection control approaches for MROs. This study aimed to explore patient and healthcare worker experiences and perspectives of MROs. Methods: A sequential exploratory mixed-methods study was performed at a large metropolitan acute and subacute hospital. This involved semi-structured face-to-face interviews with patients with confirmed MROs to explore their understanding of these microorganisms and perceptions of their time in hospital. Healthcare workers participated in an online survey about their understanding of MROs and the care of patients with these microorganisms. Qualitative data were analysed using the COM-B framework, and were triangulated with the descriptive quantitative analysis. Results: The overarching theme from the triangulated data was uncertainty amongst both patients and staff about MROs. Insufficient explanations from staff left patients lacking a proper understanding of their diagnosis, and patients felt that staff did not always follow isolation protocols. Staff felt they did not receive enough education on MROs. However, patients felt that the overall care they received was very good, and most valued the privacy gained from being in isolation. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that there is a need to focus on new strategies of communication with patients and staff education to improve understanding of MROs and increase adherence to protocols.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85163836782&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/jacamr/dlad071
DO - 10.1093/jacamr/dlad071
M3 - Article
C2 - 37362585
AN - SCOPUS:85163836782
SN - 2632-1823
VL - 5
JO - JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance
JF - JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance
IS - 3
M1 - dlad071
ER -