Journal article
Preventing healthcare-associated infections through human factors engineering
Current opinion in infectious diseases, Vol.31(4), pp.353-358
08/2018
DOI: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000463
PMID: 29846208
Abstract
Human factors engineering (HFE) approaches are increasingly being used in healthcare, but have been applied in relatively limited ways to infection prevention and control (IPC). Previous studies have focused on using selected HFE tools, but newer literature supports a system-based HFE approach to IPC.
Cross-contamination and the existence of workarounds suggest that healthcare workers need better support to reduce and simplify steps in delivering care. Simplifying workflow can lead to better understanding of why a process fails and allow for improvements to reduce errors and increase efficiency. Hand hygiene can be improved using visual cues and nudges based on room layout. Using personal protective equipment appropriately appears simple, but exists in a complex interaction with workload, behavior, emotion, and environmental variables including product placement. HFE can help prevent the pathogen transmission through improving environmental cleaning and appropriate use of medical devices.
Emerging evidence suggests that HFE can be applied in IPC to reduce healthcare-associated infections. HFE and IPC collaboration can help improve many of the basic best practices including use of hand hygiene and personal protective equipment by healthcare workers during patient care.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Preventing healthcare-associated infections through human factors engineering
- Creators
- Jesse T Jacob - Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GeorgiaLoreen A Herwaldt - Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IowaFrancis T Durso - School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USACDC Prevention Epicenters Program
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Current opinion in infectious diseases, Vol.31(4), pp.353-358
- DOI
- 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000463
- PMID
- 29846208
- ISSN
- 0951-7375
- eISSN
- 1473-6527
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2018
- Academic Unit
- Infectious Diseases; Epidemiology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984094397302771
Metrics
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