Understanding how infection prevention influences nurses' task sequencing using a mixed-methods, simulation-based approach

• DOI: 10.1016/j.hfh.2023.100046
• Publication Date: 2023-06-01T10:25:00Z
• Authors: Bradley W. Weaver; Joel M. Mumma; Sweta Parmar; Rebecca E. MacKay; Jill S. Morgan; Golpar Ghassemian; Paige R. Gannon; Lindsay Lee
• Keywords: Think aloud protocol

Better understand how and why nurses sequence their patient care tasks. Workflow mitigation strategies, such as working clean to dirty, could help reduce cross-contamination. However, the extent which priorities, other than infection prevention concerns, influence of tasks is poorly understood. We had perform high fidelity simulations that incorporated common barriers practicing prevention, time pressure, workload, interruptions. assigned were either or low in patient-infection risk dirtiness; a two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used analyze effect these two factors on order completed cued-retrospective think-aloud elicit participants sequenced way they did; open closed card sorts this data. On average, risk, dirtiness first followed by (regardless risk) then finally Analysis think-alouds suggest stability comfort were, higher priorities for task sequencing prevention. Healthcare workers have balance competing stability, comfort, concerns with limited resources (e.g., staff, supplies, time) available them. Future research examining different approaches might affect would inform healthcare