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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 4 of 4 Research Studies DisplayedAdams V, Song J, Shang J
Infection prevention and control practices in the home environment: examining enablers and barriers to adherence among home health care nurses.
This study’s aim was to examine the impact of individual, home environment, and organization factors on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices in home health care. A survey of 350 nurses across two large home care agencies was conducted to examine the relationship between IPC adherence and these factors. Multiple barriers to IPC practices in patients’ homes were reported including clutter (74.5%), and a dirty environment (70.3%). They also reported limited availability of some IPC supplies including personal protective equipment.
AHRQ-funded; HS024723.
Citation: Adams V, Song J, Shang J .
Infection prevention and control practices in the home environment: examining enablers and barriers to adherence among home health care nurses.
Am J Infect Control 2021 Jun;49(6):721-26. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.10.021..
Keywords: Home Healthcare, Community-Acquired Infections, Infectious Diseases, Prevention, Provider: Nurse, Provider
Russell D, Dowding D, Trifilio M
Individual, social, and environmental factors for infection risk among home healthcare patients: a multi-method study.
This paper is a study of nurse perceptions of individual, social, and environmental factors for infection risk among home healthcare (HHC) patients and also identifies the frequency of environmental barriers to infection prevention and control in HHC. Data were collected in 2017-2018 from qualitative interviews with 50 HHC nurses and structured observations of nurse visits to patients’ homes (n = 400). Perceived infection risk among patients was characterized as being influenced by knowledge of and attitudes towards infection prevention and engagement in hygiene practices, receipt of support from informal caregivers and nurse interventions aimed at cultivating infection control knowledge and practices, and the home environment. Frequent environmental barriers observed during visits to patients included clutter (39.5%), poor lighting (38.8%), dirtiness (28.5%), and pets (17.2%).
AHRQ-funded; HS024723.
Citation: Russell D, Dowding D, Trifilio M .
Individual, social, and environmental factors for infection risk among home healthcare patients: a multi-method study.
Health Soc Care Community 2021 May;29(3):780-88. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13321..
Keywords: Home Healthcare, Community-Acquired Infections, Risk, Provider: Nurse, Provider
Dowding D, Russell D, Trifilio M
Home care nurses' identification of patients at risk of infection and their risk mitigation strategies: a qualitative interview study.
Investigators sought to understand if and how home care nurses identify patients at high risk of infection and which strategies they use to mitigate that risk. Interviews with fifty nurses were audio recorded and transcribed. Factors identified by the nurses as putting a patient at higher risk of infection included being older, having diabetes, and inadequate nutrition as well as inadequate clinical information available at start of care. The main strategy for infection prevention was patient and caregiver education. Nurses also discussed the importance of their own infection prevention behaviors and the ability to adjust a patient's plan of care according to their infection risk.
AHRQ-funded; HS024723.
Citation: Dowding D, Russell D, Trifilio M .
Home care nurses' identification of patients at risk of infection and their risk mitigation strategies: a qualitative interview study.
Int J Nurs Stud 2020 Jul;107:103617. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103617..
Keywords: Home Healthcare, Community-Acquired Infections, Infectious Diseases, Patient Safety, Prevention, Nursing, Shared Decision Making
Shang J, Russell D, Dowding D
A predictive risk model for infection-related hospitalization among home healthcare patients.
Infection prevention is a high priority for home healthcare (HHC), but tools are lacking to identify patients at highest risk of developing infections. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a predictive risk model to identify HHC patients at risk of an infection-related hospitalization or emergency department visit. A nonexperimental study using secondary data was conducted.
AHRQ-funded; HS024723.
Citation: Shang J, Russell D, Dowding D .
A predictive risk model for infection-related hospitalization among home healthcare patients.
J Healthc Qual 2020 May/Jun;42(3):136-47. doi: 10.1097/jhq.0000000000000214..
Keywords: Elderly, Home Healthcare, Infectious Diseases, Community-Acquired Infections, Risk, Hospitalization, Emergency Department