Participatory infection control system development of Dok Khamtai Hospital, Phayao province, Thailand

Abstract

This study was a participatory action research aiming to develop aneffectiveness Infection Control (IC) in Dokkhamtai Hospital, Phayao province innorthern Thailand. The population are 85 staff members of the hospital. Theparticipatory process involved assessment and analysis of existing problem,prioritization and planning of IC problems, participatory implementation of solutions,and evaluation of the programme. Important goals were a standard decontamination andsterilization system, knowledge and awareness in IC, efficient infection surveillancesystem and information, public relation system for IC, waste management system, cleanenvironment, and capable IC committee. As for participation in evaluation, InfectionControl ward Nurses (ICWNs) and their Chiefs participated in directing and controllingat service delivery point level. While ICN and assistant participated in follow up andsupervision.The results showed that all of the staff, i.e., Infection Control Nurse (ICN) andICN assistants medical and non-medical staff, as well as the IC committee were able toapply participatory process in both technical and administrative IC related problems.They first worked on allocation of responsibility of IC work, monthly meeting,collaboration in assessment, directing, control and supervision, restructuring of theorganization, improvement of medical equipment transportation. Together, theydecided a surveillance system to monitor infections in all in-patient occupational-related accidents, Central Supply's sterilization system and transportation of sterilizedequipment, extra isolation room. They also encourage staff to use protective barriersand to do annual physical check-up, and finally have a campaign on wastemanagement. A training program on common communicable diseases and IC wasoffered. After training, the knowledge outcome of medical staff rose from 18.3% to 24.1 % (P<.05) and non-medical staff rose from 16.7% to 21.6% (P<.05).The study found that hospital staff at all levels, be it medical or non-medical,are able to participate in problem identification an solution finding, therefore, anyaction planning that require their participation should be problem-oriented throughparticipatory process, meeting, publication, and continuation of their education.