Authors (including presenting author) :
Mak WY(1), Fan YY(1), Lau PW(2), Ho SM(3), Fong WY(4)
Affiliation :
(1)Infection Disease Centre, Princess Margaret Hospital, (2)Medicine and Geriatrics, Caritas Medical Centre. (3)Medicine and Geriatrics, Yan Chai Hospital, (4)Medicine and Geriatrics, Ruttonjee Hospital
Introduction :
This project explores the importance of enhancing safety practices among nursing staff during high aerosol-generating procedures (AGP), particularly for patients with infectious diseases. AGPs pose a significant risk of respiratory infection transmission to healthcare workers due to aerosols generated during medical interventions. To improve safety in open and closed suctioning for infectious patients, this project designed a training program targeting junior nursing staff.
Objectives :
The primary objective of this project is to utilize video-assisted learning and practical exercises to enhance the safety and competence of junior nursing colleagues in performing both open and closed suctioning procedures for intubated patients with airborne infectious diseases. Specifically, the aim is to improve nursing staff's knowledge and infection control practices to minimize contamination risks in the clinical environment.
Methodology :
The project was obtained from a total of 33 target participants who are colleagues with less than five years of experience and work in isolation wards at Caritas Medical Centre, Princess Margaret Hospital, Ruttonjee Hospital, and Yan Chai Hospital. This project methodology was structured into three main phases. First, a pre-assessment was conducted to evaluate participants' existing knowledge and skills in suctioning techniques and safety measures. This was followed by an instructional component where participants viewed a training video demonstrating correct suctioning techniques and safety protocols. Finally, a post-assessment was carried out, allowing participants to re-engage in suctioning procedures and assess improvements in their performance. Each phase was designed based on established clinical guidelines to ensure relevance and effectiveness.
Result & Outcome :
The evaluation revealed significant enhancements in nursing staff's knowledge and safety practices related to AGP. In the pre-test, approximately 68.6% of participants were exposed to high-risk areas. Following the video training, post-test results showed an improvement to about 93.6%, indicating that staff effectively learned from their mistakes with the guidance provided. Most participants demonstrated competency in fundamental infection control practices, including proper hand hygiene and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE). This indicates that the training program successfully improved nursing staff's capabilities and confidence in performing suctioning techniques. Continuous formal training programs are recommended to further enhance awareness, knowledge, and infection control practices among nursing staff to prevent cross-infections and minimize the risk of acquiring nosocomial infections.
