We've Got You Covered: Return Demonstration from 4000+ Employees

Abstract

Background Despite being one of the most important preventive measures for infection prevention and control, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is often neglected by healthcare workers (HCW) and can lead to a decrease in compliance and adherence levels. HCW are at a much greater risk of exposure than the general population, due to their potential contact with communicable diseases and pathogens. A visit from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revealed staff failures in complying with PPE recommendations as well as a lack of formalized staff education and compliance monitoring in the proper use of PPE. How does a group of three Infection Preventionists go about training, evaluating, and documenting completed return demonstration of 4000+ employees in an efficient and effective manner? Does combing multiple purpose mandatory education events compared to a single purpose mandatory education event produce better turnout results for compliance of completion? Methods The Infection Preventionists implemented a return demonstration process that consisted of first viewing a video of proper donning and doffing, following CDC evidence based best practice standards. Multiple event times were scheduled, and return demonstration was mandated. Both single purpose events for return demonstration along with combing the return demonstration with other mandatory education events were scheduled and took place. Results Mandatory nurse skills fair yielded the greatest amount of completed return demonstrations, 43%. Combining with annual flu shot vaccination clinics brought several return demonstrations to be completed, 44%. Single events of only return demonstrations resulted in a mere 9% of completion. Conclusions Return demonstration yields a greater response when offered as part of a mandatory educational event. Proper use of PPE aides in protecting patients, and HCWs. A facility-wide program, backed by administration, involving both the organization and the individuals can overcome limiting factors such as knowledge deficit and improve compliance for proper PPE usage. Despite being one of the most important preventive measures for infection prevention and control, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is often neglected by healthcare workers (HCW) and can lead to a decrease in compliance and adherence levels. HCW are at a much greater risk of exposure than the general population, due to their potential contact with communicable diseases and pathogens. A visit from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revealed staff failures in complying with PPE recommendations as well as a lack of formalized staff education and compliance monitoring in the proper use of PPE. How does a group of three Infection Preventionists go about training, evaluating, and documenting completed return demonstration of 4000+ employees in an efficient and effective manner? Does combing multiple purpose mandatory education events compared to a single purpose mandatory education event produce better turnout results for compliance of completion? The Infection Preventionists implemented a return demonstration process that consisted of first viewing a video of proper donning and doffing, following CDC evidence based best practice standards. Multiple event times were scheduled, and return demonstration was mandated. Both single purpose events for return demonstration along with combing the return demonstration with other mandatory education events were scheduled and took place. Mandatory nurse skills fair yielded the greatest amount of completed return demonstrations, 43%. Combining with annual flu shot vaccination clinics brought several return demonstrations to be completed, 44%. Single events of only return demonstrations resulted in a mere 9% of completion. Return demonstration yields a greater response when offered as part of a mandatory educational event. Proper use of PPE aides in protecting patients, and HCWs. A facility-wide program, backed by administration, involving both the organization and the individuals can overcome limiting factors such as knowledge deficit and improve compliance for proper PPE usage.