Dr Vanessa Sparke1, Associate Professor David MacLaren, Professor Caryn West
1James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
2Collaborative for the Advancement of Infection Prevention and Control, Cairns/Gold Coast/Sunshine Coast, Australia
3Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control, Hobart, Australia
Introduction: Infection prevention and control (IPC) came to the fore during the COVID-19 pandemic with global expectations in healthcare of compliance with recognised international guidelines. Yet despite 40 years of modern IPC practice, health services around the world struggle to maintain minimal IPC standards even without the pressures of a pandemic, many are in resource-limited settings. Atoifi Adventist Hospital (AAH) in the Solomon Islands is one such hospital.
Aim: To investigate IPC practice at AAH with the aim of creating a meaningful and sustainable program. In doing this, staff and community knowledge and beliefs about infection transmission was explored, and IPC practice and rationale determined.
Methods: This qualitative study employed a participatory action research methodology using Photovoice followed by semi-structured interviews as the primary data collection method. Participants included staff educated in biomedical principles, and staff with little or no formal education.
Results: Improving IPC practice is not straightforward. Cultural, spiritual and societal practices and beliefs influence how people view disease causation and transmission and affects healthcare worker’s practice. ‘Germ theory’ does not necessarily inform people’s beliefs, even for staff educated via the biomedical model; to implement IPC guidelines based on germ theory principles, and expect staff to practise accordingly, is not plausible.
Conclusion: IPC programs will only work if they are transformed into a context that is understood by staff and community – one that complements the biomedical model. Governments and hospital leaders need to consider this when implementing IPC programs. It’s time for us to challenge the rhetoric.
Biography: Vanessa is a Senior Lecturer for Nursing and Midwifery at James Cook University. Vanessa has 19 years experience in infection prevention and control in large metroplitan settings and rural and remote health facilites. Now the Course Coordinator for the Graduate Certificate of Infection Control at JCU, Vanessa developed her passion for ‘seeing IPC differently’ through her work in the Kimberley region of WA and her PhD studies in the Solomon Islands. Vanessa is a member of the ACIPC Education and Professional Development committee, and is a founding member of the Collaborative for the Advancement of Infection Prevention and Control.