Effectiveness of an improvement program in the prevention of infections associated with health care applying the environmentalist theory of Florence Nightingale

Abstract

Introduction: Health care-associated infections are considered one of the quality indicators in hospital care, they have a complex multifactorial origin, whose factors involved are difficult to modify, however, there is the possibility of intervening in the staff.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an improvement program in the prevention of infections associated with health care applying the environmentalist theory of Florence Nightingale.

Methods: A longitudinal pre-experimental investigation was carried out in services with the highest incidence of these infections at the Hospital General Mártires del 9 de abril, in Villa Clara in the period 2019-2020. The population was 139 nursing professionals with a sample of 125, to whom a survey was applied and a participant observation was carried out. The criteria of nominal group specialists were also collected.

Results: 78.40% were nursing graduates, 49.60% with less than 5 years of work performance. About the definition, locations and most frequent germs of IAAS before the training, 84.00% had inadequate knowledge and after 92.80%. In prevention and control standards, before the training was applied, hand washing only reached 24.80% and after 96.00%. In the observation of procedures, 77.60% received an evaluation of inadequate, perfecting these techniques in 90.40% after applying it. The affectivity of overcoming was 95.20%

Conclusions: The improvement program in the prevention of infections associated with health care applying the environmentalist theory of Florence Nightingale was effective, updating knowledge, modifying practices and attitudes and promoting a pleasant environment.