Effectiveness of Interventional Strategies in Modulating Knowledge and Attitude of Health Care Professionals for Promoting Organ Donation: A Study in Tertiary Care Public Hospital of North India.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of interventional "educational module" on knowledge and attitude regarding organ donation amongst resident doctors and nurses in the Institute of National Importance. STUDY DESIGN: Interventional and prospective. METHODS: We devised an interactive educational module covering various aspects of organ donation through a series of audiovisual lectures and information booklets. Resident doctors and nurses posted in those areas of the 1948-bedded Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), where head injury patients were treated and were subject to intervention using this module. The pre and postinterventional scores of their knowledge and attitude regarding organ donation were compared to find out impact of the intervention. RESULTS: A total of 242 nurses and 87 resident doctors participated in this research. Higher knowledge score was observed preintervention amongst doctors as compared to nurses. Significant improvement was seen in total knowledge scores of both groups postintervention. Doctors had better scores for the "concept of organ donation," while nurses were more familiar with "procedures and protocols." Both had low knowledge about "clinical criteria for brain death" and "legal issues" preintervention which improved significantly postintervention. The positive impact of intervention was also observed on attitude in both categories. A significant impact of intervention was observed on overall propensity of doctors and nurses to promote organ donation, for pledging their own organs and for counseling of the patient/attendants on this cause. CONCLUSION: Scientifically designed educational modules have a promising role in improving awareness and attitude of health care professionals regarding organ donation and their propensity to be prospective donors, effective counselors, and advocates of organ donation.

Hand hygiene compliance of patients' family members in India: importance of educating the unofficial 'fourth category' of healthcare personnel.

INTRODUCTION: In India, due to manpower constraints, patients' family members are often actively involved in healthcare activities of their near and dear ones. They have significant contact with the patient at all World Health Organization (WHO) 'five moments for hand hygiene'. This study analysed the impact of decade-long awareness campaigns on the hand hygiene compliance (HHC) by our patients' carers. METHODS: Trained infection control nurses observed the HHC at each of the five moments for patients' attendants in different hospital settings from January 2014 to December 2018. Compliance was calculated as percentage of events divided by total opportunities. FINDINGS: A total of 7302 opportunities were observed with an overall compliance of 46.1% (35.5% in 2014 to 48.2% in 2018, P < 0.0001). Compliance at WHO moments 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 was 51.0%, 47.4%, 67.6%, 48.8%, and 24.3% respectively. Among family members, mothers of newborns had a much higher HHC (77%) than others (44.5%) (P < 0.0001). Also, the compliance was higher in medical versus surgical wards and in paediatric wards versus adult wards (P < 0.0001 in both). CONCLUSION: This is the first study on family members' HHC in a hospital setting in a low- and middle-income country. The study shows that family members, once trained, exhibit fairly good HHC while caring for their patients, especially mothers of newborns. It is worthwhile empowering and educating patient attendants about the importance and process of hand hygiene as it is likely to result in immense benefit for patients.

Point prevalence surveys of healthcare-associated infections and use of indwelling devices and antimicrobials over three years in a tertiary care hospital in India.

Few hospitals in India perform regular surveillance for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and use of indwelling devices and antimicrobials. The aim of this study was to conduct two one-day point prevalence surveys of HAIs and use of indwelling devices and antimicrobials in a large 1800-bed tertiary care hospital in India. The overall prevalence of HAIs was 7%, and surgical site infections were the most common (33%). Indwelling devices were present in 497 (27%) patients, and 915 (50%) patients were receiving antimicrobials. This study helped to generate robust baseline data on the prevalence of HAIs and use of indwelling devices and antimicrobials in the study hospital.