Delivering the infection control message: a communication challenge

Background: Hospital infection control teams (ICTs) worldwide face a constant challenge to deliver timely information to audiences with specific and diverse information needs. Aim: Our study investigated the communication flow between the ICT and healthcare workers (HCWs) at St Luke's Hospital, Malta, using an exploratory descriptive research design. Method: Using a self-administered questionnaire, data were collected from a stratified random sample of nurses (N = 143) and doctors (N = 63) working within inpatient wards; a response rate of 97% was achieved. Findings: HCWs felt most comfortable receiving information from members of their same profession. Information transfer was mainly vertically up and down the hierarchy. Respondents preferred to receive information through educational activities (35%, N = 69) and through face-to-face contact (31%, N = 62). Electronic channels (e-mail and intranet) were ranked least preferable; however, only 41% (N = 81) had regular access to a computer system at work. The majority of respondents 91% (N = 181) trusted the information by the ICT and 60% (N = 118) regarded it as being consistent. Nevertheless, this did not guarantee constant compliance; 54% (N = 106) of respondents implemented IC measures only when they perceived a risk for their health. Greater presence of the ICT on the wards was recommended. Conclusion: Notwithstanding the electronic age, the study confirms that face-to-face contact between ICTs and HCWs remains the most effective way of disseminating IC information. (C) 2012 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.