Health care workers' perceptions of respiratory and gastrointestinal algorithms for patient management in emergency care settings
published online 03 July 2009.
Background
Patients with respiratory or gastrointestinal illness in emergency care settings are often not yet diagnosed but are at risk of transmitting disease. Infection control algorithms delineating a standard approach to patient management decrease risk of secondary exposure, but few articles document health care workers' (HCWs) perceptions as to their effectiveness and ease of implementation.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey approach was used to explore HCWs perceptions in 2 emergency departments of the current algorithms for management of potentially infectious respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses.
Results
Surveys from 96 HCWs revealed that algorithms were perceived as invaluable in protecting staff, patients, and colleagues. Differences in self-reported compliance, clarity, and ease of implementation of the respiratory algorithm were noted between facilities, likely reflecting variation in the physical plant. Physicians scored significantly lower for compliance with the respiratory algorithm.
Conclusion
Algorithms were perceived to offer a clear and consistent approach to patient management and protect HCWs in spite of environmental and resource limitations.
University of British Columbia and the Division of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Address correspondence to Elizabeth A. Bryce, MD, FRCPC, Division of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, JPN 1111 855 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 1M9.
ABSTRACT