Dr Peta-anne Zimmerman1,2,3, Ms Kellie Kenway2, Ms Renee Strotton2, Ms Aby Foster2, Dr Deborough Macbeth2
1Griffith University, Southport, Australia
2Gold Coast Hospital and Health Services, Southport, Australia
3Collaborative for the Advancement of Infection Prevention and Control, Southport, Australia
Background: The Infection Control Internship (ICI) was developed to address significant need identified throughout the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (GCHHS) response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the Infection Control Department (ICD) at the forefront of the pandemic response it was apparent there is a need to have additional ICD capacity to meet surge demands. The challenge was to identify a mechanism whereby the additional capacity can be utilised elsewhere when not needed for such a response while remaining available to be called upon when additional capacity is required.
Actions: The fully funded six-month ICI, commenced 2021, combines formal academic learning from the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control Foundations of Infection Prevention and Control course with practical skills development in the ICD and the participant’s home ward undertaking their substantive role, applying knowledge and skills acquired to the clinical context. The two groups (n=4) to date were evaluated using a pre-post survey of confidence in infection prevention and control (IPC) knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) domains and semi-structured interviews with participants, peers, and supervisors.
Results: Self-reported improvement in confidence scores across all IPC KAP domains was identified. Statistical significance was unable to be determined due to sample size. The over-arching theme identified from the interviews was positive growth with sub-themes specific to participants and peers.
Conclusion: Results to date indicate that participants would be able to assist with surge capacity in the ICD whilst remaining an important resource and role model for their home wards.
Biography: Dr Peta-Anne Zimmerman is an internationally respected clinician, educator and researcher in infection prevention and control. Dr Zimmerman’s experience includes consultancy work with the World Health Organization (WHO), AusAID, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Secretariat of the Pacific Communities (SPC). Peta-Anne is a Visiting Research Fellow with the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service Infection Control Department and Senior Lecturer of the Griffith Graduate Infection Prevention and Control Program. She is also a Board Director of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control.