The effects of a poster in informing and empowering patients in infection prevention and control

Abstract

Finding effective ways to change healthcare workers’ (HCWs) behaviour while informing and empowering patients is challenging. Providing patient information at critical points of care delivery may empower them to address lapses and change HCWs’ behaviour. In this study, posters detailing standards required for five high impact interventions were displayed in patients’ rooms. Research groups were: ‘pre-poster’ (months 1–2; n=142 patients); ‘poster’ (months 3–4; n=59); ‘no-poster’ (months 3–4; n=52); and ‘no-poster’ (months 5–6; n=104). Poster effectiveness was evaluated by a quantitative questionnaire (n=357). Patients were asked if they identified lapses in five interventions by HCWs and whether patients had addressed them. Patient interviews (n=10 per group) explored patients’ knowledge of interventions. Only patients with posters addressed lapses. Poster presence was associated with significant increase in noticing lapses in the first two weeks but decreased incidence in noticing lapses in weeks 3–8. There was significant aversion to reporting doctors’ lapses. Interviews showed that posters significantly increased respondents’ knowledge, suggesting that lapses noticed in weeks 1–2 and not noticed in weeks 3–8 by the ‘poster’ group were genuine lapses followed by a change in HCWs’ behaviour. HCW self-interest in avoiding complaints from patients coincides with the aim of the posters in improving standards.