Food for Thought: The Cafeteria Quiz; an Educational and Engaging Approach to Reinforce Infection Prevention Concepts during Infection Prevention Week

Abstract

Providing education can be challenging because students and employees have very little free time, and we wanted students and staff to experience an enjoyable educational experience. BACKGROUND: The Infection Prevention (IP) Team had an opportunity to position a table in the cafeteria during Infection Prevention Week, October, 2011. We seized the valuable occasion to reinforce infection prevention concepts and emphasize our culture of patient safety, while strengthening communication between the IP team, hospital staff, and students. We were determined to connect with students and employees by encouraging the asking of questions related to infection prevention and participating in a thoughtprovoking raffle/quiz. For Infection Prevention Week in October, 2011, an ungraded, anonymous raffle/quiz was developed that consisted of 8 questions related to infection prevention (IP). The objective was to provide education while reinforcing IP concepts in an enjoyable and friendly approach, and questions were selected that were interesting and challenging. The raffle entry was at the top of the quiz and a total of six prizes were distributed. Hundreds of boxes of hand sanitizer wipes were distributed, as well as buttons, stickers, and pamphlets. Results: The Cafeteria Quiz was a huge success as each raffle/quiz entry initiated dialogue between staff and the IP team. This provided an important glimpse into areas where education was appropriate due to the high level of interest the questions generated. We received numerous requests for the quiz to be e-mailed to unit managers for the purposes of future education. The IP team also wore badges that stated “I had my Flu Shot” and we reminded staff to have their influenza vaccinations and provided information about flu vaccination. Additionally, staff truly liked the self-sticking hand washing signs to adhere above sinks. More than 350 students and staff entered the raffle contest, which required filling out the raffle quiz to win prizes, and a total of six prizes awarded. Lesson Learned: The cafeteria