Adherence to precautions for preventing the transmission of microorganisms in primary health care: a qualitative study
Background Health care associated infections (HAIs) are a source of concern worldwide. No health service in any country can be considered HAI risk-free. However, there is scarcity of data on the risks to which both patients and health workers are subject in non-hospital settings. The aim of this...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
BioMed Central
2017
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/46960/ |
| _version_ | 1848797437108420608 |
|---|---|
| author | Maroldi, Michely Aparecida Cardoso Felix, Adriana Maria da Silva Dias, Ana Angélica Lima Kawagoe, Julia Yaeko Padoveze, Maria Clara Ferreira, Sílvia Alice Zem-Mascarenhas, Sílvia Helena Timmons, Stephen Figueiredo, Rosely Moralez |
| author_facet | Maroldi, Michely Aparecida Cardoso Felix, Adriana Maria da Silva Dias, Ana Angélica Lima Kawagoe, Julia Yaeko Padoveze, Maria Clara Ferreira, Sílvia Alice Zem-Mascarenhas, Sílvia Helena Timmons, Stephen Figueiredo, Rosely Moralez |
| author_sort | Maroldi, Michely Aparecida Cardoso |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background
Health care associated infections (HAIs) are a source of concern worldwide. No health service in any country can be considered HAI risk-free. However, there is scarcity of data on the risks to which both patients and health workers are subject in non-hospital settings. The aim of this study was to identify issues that determine the adherence of professionals to precautions for preventing transmission of microorganisms in primary health care.
Method
This was a qualitative study, using focus groups of primary health care staff, in two Brazilian municipalities. The data were analysed using content analysis.
Results
Four focus groups were conducted with 20 professionals (11 community health workers, 5 nursing assistants and 4 nurses), and the analysed content was organized into four thematic categories. These categories are: low risk perception, weaknesses in knowledge, insufficient in-service training and infrastructure limitations.
Participants expressed their weaknesses in knowledge of standard and transmission based precautions, mainly for hand hygiene and tuberculosis. A lack of appropriate resources and standardization in sharps disposal management was also highlighted by the participants.
Conclusion
The study points out the need to provide in-service training for professionals on the transmission of microorganisms in primary health care to ensure adequate level of risk perception and knowledge. Further recommendations include investment to improve infrastructure to facilitate adherence to precautions and to minimize the risk of disease transmission for both patients and health care workers. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:03:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-46960 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:03:51Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | BioMed Central |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-469602020-05-04T19:05:38Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/46960/ Adherence to precautions for preventing the transmission of microorganisms in primary health care: a qualitative study Maroldi, Michely Aparecida Cardoso Felix, Adriana Maria da Silva Dias, Ana Angélica Lima Kawagoe, Julia Yaeko Padoveze, Maria Clara Ferreira, Sílvia Alice Zem-Mascarenhas, Sílvia Helena Timmons, Stephen Figueiredo, Rosely Moralez Background Health care associated infections (HAIs) are a source of concern worldwide. No health service in any country can be considered HAI risk-free. However, there is scarcity of data on the risks to which both patients and health workers are subject in non-hospital settings. The aim of this study was to identify issues that determine the adherence of professionals to precautions for preventing transmission of microorganisms in primary health care. Method This was a qualitative study, using focus groups of primary health care staff, in two Brazilian municipalities. The data were analysed using content analysis. Results Four focus groups were conducted with 20 professionals (11 community health workers, 5 nursing assistants and 4 nurses), and the analysed content was organized into four thematic categories. These categories are: low risk perception, weaknesses in knowledge, insufficient in-service training and infrastructure limitations. Participants expressed their weaknesses in knowledge of standard and transmission based precautions, mainly for hand hygiene and tuberculosis. A lack of appropriate resources and standardization in sharps disposal management was also highlighted by the participants. Conclusion The study points out the need to provide in-service training for professionals on the transmission of microorganisms in primary health care to ensure adequate level of risk perception and knowledge. Further recommendations include investment to improve infrastructure to facilitate adherence to precautions and to minimize the risk of disease transmission for both patients and health care workers. BioMed Central 2017-09-11 Article PeerReviewed Maroldi, Michely Aparecida Cardoso, Felix, Adriana Maria da Silva, Dias, Ana Angélica Lima, Kawagoe, Julia Yaeko, Padoveze, Maria Clara, Ferreira, Sílvia Alice, Zem-Mascarenhas, Sílvia Helena, Timmons, Stephen and Figueiredo, Rosely Moralez (2017) Adherence to precautions for preventing the transmission of microorganisms in primary health care: a qualitative study. BMC Nursing, 16 (1). 49/1-49/8. ISSN 1472-6955 Infection prevention and control; Primary care; Standard precautions; Adherence; Qualitative study; Nursing; Focus group; Transmission https://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-017-0245-z doi:10.1186/s12912-017-0245-z doi:10.1186/s12912-017-0245-z |
| spellingShingle | Infection prevention and control; Primary care; Standard precautions; Adherence; Qualitative study; Nursing; Focus group; Transmission Maroldi, Michely Aparecida Cardoso Felix, Adriana Maria da Silva Dias, Ana Angélica Lima Kawagoe, Julia Yaeko Padoveze, Maria Clara Ferreira, Sílvia Alice Zem-Mascarenhas, Sílvia Helena Timmons, Stephen Figueiredo, Rosely Moralez Adherence to precautions for preventing the transmission of microorganisms in primary health care: a qualitative study |
| title | Adherence to precautions for preventing the transmission of microorganisms in primary health care: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Adherence to precautions for preventing the transmission of microorganisms in primary health care: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Adherence to precautions for preventing the transmission of microorganisms in primary health care: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adherence to precautions for preventing the transmission of microorganisms in primary health care: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Adherence to precautions for preventing the transmission of microorganisms in primary health care: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | adherence to precautions for preventing the transmission of microorganisms in primary health care: a qualitative study |
| topic | Infection prevention and control; Primary care; Standard precautions; Adherence; Qualitative study; Nursing; Focus group; Transmission |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/46960/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/46960/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/46960/ |