This report highlights the importance of biofilms and of sink and patient room design in the propagation of an outbreak and suggests some strategies to reduce the risks associated with hospital sinks.

We identified several key determinants that physicians believe influence whether and when they practice hand hygiene at work. These beliefs identify potential individual, team, and organization targets for behavior change interventions to improve physician hand hygiene compliance.

BackgroundHealthcare-associated infections affect 10% of patients in Canadian acute-care hospitals and are significant and preventable causes of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. Hand hygiene is among the simplest and most effective preventive measures to reduce these infections. However, compliance with hand hygiene among healthcare workers, specifically among physicians, is consistently suboptimal. We aim to first identify the barriers and enablers to physician hand hygiene compliance, and then to develop and pilot a theory-based knowledge translation intervention to increase physicians’ compliance with best hand hygiene practice.DesignThe study consists of three phases. In Phase 1, we will identify barriers and enablers to hand hygiene compliance by physicians. This will include: key informant interviews with physicians and residents using a structured interview guide, informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework; nonparticipant observation of physician/resident hand hygiene audit sessions; and focus groups with hand hygiene experts. In Phase 2, we will conduct intervention mapping to develop a theory-based knowledge translation intervention to improve physician hand hygiene compliance. Finally, in Phase 3, we will pilot the knowledge translation intervention in four patient care units.DiscussionIn this study, we will use a behavioural theory approach to obtain a better understanding of the barriers and enablers to physician hand hygiene compliance. This will provide a comprehensive framework on which to develop knowledge translation interventions that may be more successful in improving hand hygiene practice. Upon completion of this study, we will refine the piloted knowledge translation intervention so it can be tested in a multi-site cluster randomized controlled trial.

Despite the evidence that increasing physical activity is essential for the overweight/obese adolescent population, a minority engage in necessary levels of moderate to vigorous physical exercise. In this study a physical activity intervention was designed for 120 adolescents aged 14 to 15 years in an international school in Kuwait, where adult obesity is among the highest in the Arab peninsula. All of the participants completed solution-focused questionnaires. From these, a purposive sample of 15 students who were engaging in the intervention process and showing evidence of increased physical activity levels were selected for interview. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The main factors to emerge in relation to the process of change were target setting, the social factor, parental support and skill level. It is proposed that educational psychologists are well placed to develop evidence-based systemic interventions in supporting adolescents in finding ways to adopt a healthier lifestyle within an obesogenic environment.

No abstract