Mrs Kate Ryan1, Ms Donna Cameron2, Ms Margaret Leong3, Professor Lindsay Grayson1
1Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia
2Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory, Melbourne, Australia
3Pacific Communities, Suva, Fiji
Method: The training program was spread over five 1-2 hour meetings via Zoom, with three self-directed sessions over two-weeks. Content was presented live as interactive sessions, allowing for questions and adaptation, similar to standard face-to-face training. Supervised practical sessions were replaced with independent practical sessions and follow-up Zoom question-and-answer sessions with the trainers.
Results: There were six participants in the initial Vanuatu trial. 5/6 participants completed the mandatory pre-workshop online learning module, with 4/5 who completed all mandatory requirements passing the course, or 4/6 of all participants. With the initial success, further training was conducted with participants from an additional 4 pacific island countries. 16 participants attended the second training program. 15/16 participants completed all mandatory learning, with 100% who completed all mandatory requirements passing the course, or 94% of all participants.
Conclusion: Replacing standard face-to-face training with virtual face-to-face training still allowed for successful training of GSAs. Trials of other online methods of training, with comparison of audit data collected between the different training groups, would be beneficial before adopting this new approach as standard.
Background: Hand Hygiene Australia (HHA) Gold Standard Auditor (GSA) Training was traditionally conducted face-to-face in a 1 ½ day workshop. Training consists of lectures, interactive sessions, practical demonstrations and assessments. With travel restrictions, workshops were not conducted during 2022. As training was required, virtual training via Zoom was trialled between HHA, the Doherty Institute and the Pacific Community (SPC). Pilot training was conducted with Vanuatu, followed by subsequent training for additional pacific island countries.
Biography: Kate Ryan began her health career as a physiotherapist. From experiences as an acute cardiothoracic physio, an interest in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) was sparked, and from here Kate took up a role within the founding team of Hand Hygiene Australia in 2008. IPC became Kate’s passion, completing the Foundations course in 2018, a credentialed member of ACIPC in 2019, then completing the Infection Control Grad Certificate at Griffith University in 2022.
Kate is still involved with HHA to this day, however she now has a role within Austin Health as a part of the Reusable Medical Device program.