Bridging the Gap Between Knowing and Doing – Implementation of Evidence-Based IPC Practices

Patricia Ching Tai-Yin, RN, CPHQ¹

¹WHO Collaborating Center, School of Public Health, the University of Hong Kong

Biography:

Ms. Patricia Ching RN, CPHQ is presently the Principal Nurse of the WHO Collaborating Centre, School of Public Health, the University of Hong Kong. She has extensively pursued a wide range of post graduate qualifications including Critical Care, Coronary care, Infection Control, epidemiology and Nursing Administration. She published widely in infection control and nursing. The Hong Kong Academy of Nursing conferred her the Honorary Fellow Member in Infection Prevention and Control in May 2018.  

Patricia obtained the Certified Practitioner of Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) since 1997 and has adopted quality improvement initiatives to reduce healthcare associated infection. She is the Vice President of APSIC from 2024 – 2026. 

Abstract:

Infection prevention and control (IPC) practices is evident in protecting patients and healthcare personnel (HCP) from Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) and other safety risks. Although preventing HAI is vital in health care settings, compliance with IPC practices is often low. There is a gap between translating the evidence-based guidelines into consistent daily IPC practices. Implementation science is the scientific study of methods to promote the systematic uptake of evidence-based practices into routine practices. Education and training have proven necessary but insufficient for behaviour change. It is of critical importance to evaluate contextual determinants of behaviour to design more successful, customized interventions. Implementation effort is fundamental to identify ‘facilitators – engaged leader’ and ‘barriers- unengaged obstructor’. Determinants of these factors may be individual, such as the preferences, needs, attitudes, and knowledge of HCP, hospital leaders, patients, and visitors. Implementation Strategies are methods or techniques used to enhance the adoption, implementation, and sustainability of a program or practice” or the “how” of implementation.