Exploring patient participation in reducing health-care-related safety risks
Exploring patient participation in reducing health-care-related safety risks
Exploring patient participation in reducing health-care-related safety risks
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<strong>Explor<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>patient</strong> <strong>participation</strong> <strong>in</strong> reduc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>health</strong>-<strong>care</strong>-<strong>related</strong> <strong>safety</strong> <strong>risks</strong><br />
44<br />
Recommendation 1 – Educate <strong>patient</strong>s on hand hygiene<br />
Appropriate <strong>patient</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation can play an important part <strong>in</strong> the process of active<br />
<strong>patient</strong> engagement <strong>in</strong> hand hygiene implementation. Development and extension<br />
of <strong>patient</strong>s’ education on hand hygiene, <strong>patient</strong> <strong>safety</strong> and reduction of HAI are key<br />
<strong>in</strong>terventions that can be achieved through tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and education programmes.<br />
Preparation and distribution of materials to raise hand hygiene awareness supports these<br />
<strong>in</strong>terventions.<br />
Recommendation 2 – Educate HCWs on <strong>patient</strong> <strong>in</strong>volvement <strong>in</strong> safe <strong>care</strong><br />
The survey shows that <strong>patient</strong>s are much more likely to ask about hand hygiene if<br />
explicitly <strong>in</strong>vited to do so, highlight<strong>in</strong>g the need for full HCW support for the process.<br />
Patient <strong>participation</strong> <strong>in</strong> hand hygiene could be further enhanced through HCWs’<br />
education, focus<strong>in</strong>g on promotion and advocacy for <strong>patient</strong> <strong>participation</strong> <strong>in</strong> safe <strong>care</strong> and<br />
us<strong>in</strong>g explicit <strong>in</strong>vitations from HCWs as guidance.<br />
Recommendation 3 – Stimulate cultural change among the general public and medical profession<br />
Many <strong>in</strong>stitutions score “<strong>in</strong>adequate” for <strong>patient</strong> <strong>participation</strong> <strong>in</strong> the self-assessment tool,<br />
show<strong>in</strong>g that the culture of <strong>safety</strong> is not fully implemented <strong>in</strong> hospitals. Identified l<strong>in</strong>ks<br />
between age, profession and beliefs, and the perception of <strong>patient</strong>s’ direct <strong>in</strong>volvement<br />
<strong>in</strong> reduc<strong>in</strong>g HAIs provide additional evidence for the necessary cultural change for<br />
the general public (<strong>safety</strong> and quality expectations) and medical profession to enhance<br />
<strong>health</strong> <strong>care</strong> provider and <strong>patient</strong> dialogue at hospital level.<br />
Recommendation 4 – Monitor progress and provide evidence<br />
The study described <strong>in</strong> this chapter should be extended to other <strong>health</strong> <strong>care</strong> facilities to<br />
validate the data on a wider national scale and promote their further use <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>form<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>related</strong> decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g mechanisms. Dedicated <strong>in</strong>dicators should be used to monitor<br />
progress and ensure that planned actions are implemented and <strong>patient</strong> engagement <strong>in</strong><br />
wide-scale hand hygiene compliance is ensured and effective.<br />
References<br />
1. Patient <strong>safety</strong> – mak<strong>in</strong>g it happen! Luxembourg Declaration on Patient Safety, 5 April<br />
2005. Luxembourg, European Commission Directorate-General for Health and<br />
Consumer Protection, 2005 (http://ec.europa.eu/<strong>health</strong>/ph_overview/Documents/<br />
ev_20050405_rd01_en.pdf, accessed 1 May 2012).<br />
2. Health<strong>care</strong>-associated <strong>in</strong>fections [web site]. Stockholm, European Centre for<br />
Disease Prevention and Control, 2012 (http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/<strong>health</strong>topics/<br />
Health<strong>care</strong>-associated_<strong>in</strong>fections/Pages/<strong>in</strong>dex.aspx, accessed 29 June 2012).<br />
3. European Council recommendation on <strong>patient</strong> <strong>safety</strong>, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the prevention and<br />
control of <strong>health</strong><strong>care</strong> associated <strong>in</strong>fections. Brussels, Council of the European Union,<br />
2009 (http://ec.europa.eu/<strong>health</strong>/ph_systems/docs/<strong>patient</strong>_rec2009_en.pdf,<br />
accessed 1 May 2012).<br />
4. Vatcheva-Dobrevska R. Patient <strong>safety</strong>: <strong>in</strong>dicator for <strong>health</strong><strong>care</strong> quality. Forum<br />
Medicus, 2008, 5.<br />
5. Rutschmann C. Prevalence rate of nosocomial <strong>in</strong>fections <strong>in</strong> Bulgarian hospitals<br />
(2006–2007) [thesis]. Basel, Universitäten Basel, Bern und Zürich, 2010 (https://<br />
<strong>in</strong>tern.public-<strong>health</strong>-edu.ch/abstract/RC_12.01.10.pdf, accessed 1 May 2012).