Infection Control Practices – Problems and Constraints in its Implementation among Registered Nurses in Medical Wards of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram

Abstract

Infection prevention and control is a scientific approach for the prevention of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs). The nursing fraternity have colossal role in implementation of infection control practices, but the nurses come across many challenges in its implementation. The present study is a qualitative descriptive inquiry to explore the problems and constraints in implementation of infection control practices among registered nurses in a tertiary care hospital, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala). The data collected by in-depth interview with 12 stakeholders and focus group discussions with 13 staff nurses working in medical wards. The data were analysed by Braun & Clarke’s 6-step thematic analysis. The two main themes derived as problems in implementation of infection control practices among registered nurses were professional problems and behavioural problems. The four main themes that emerged as constraints in implementation of infection control practices among registered nurses were resource depletion, unsatisfactory work environment, socio-environmental factors and hospital policy and protocol implementation issues.