Health worker’s mobile phone: Could it be a danger to patients’ health or an innovation for health?

Abstract

Purpose: The study sought to analyse the role of the mobile phones used by healthcare workers at a Private Hospital in Gweru, Zimbabwe during working hours on transmission of nosocomial infections. Methods: The research was carried out at a Private Hospital in Gweru, Midlands Province of Zimbabwe. The study was a mixed methods research in which data was generated in two phases - qualitatively first then quantitatively. The qualitative was imbedded in the quantitative design leading to a better probability and validity of results. Twenty-five (25) health workers that use mobile phones during working hours were purposively selected for the qualitative study and their mobile phones that had been in use for six months and above were randomly selected for the quantitative part of the study. Interviews were used to collect qualitative data which was thematically analysed. The phones were swabbed and the swabs were cultured to allow identification of pathogens. The data was presented using statistical methods. Results: The study revealed that healthcare workers use their mobile phones to communicate patient’s condition with colleagues and superiors. They also spend time on social media and gaming. However, they do not disinfect them. The result showed that seventeen (68%) of mobile devices were contaminated with E coli, (75%), Staphylococci (38%) and Streptococcal (21%) which are pathogens that have a potential of causing nosocomial infections. Conclusion: The study concluded that health workers’ mobile phones can be an innovation for communicating patient’s information, they also have a potential of causing nosocomial infection hence the need for surveillances of hospital acquired infections in all heath care institutions including private hospitals.