Effects of Infection Control Education for Families of VRE Patients

Seo, Jung; Kang, Jiyeon

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of infection control education for families of patients infected with vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE). METHOD: Forty family members of VRE patients were chosen from a university hospital and assigned to the experimental or control group. The experimental group was provided infection control education that consisted of one-on-one instruction using an information booklet, hand-washing video, and demonstration of hand washing practice. Dependent variables were self-reported knowledge and performance of VRE infection control measures, and the number of hand washings when entering and leaving patients' rooms.
RESULTS
Knowledge and performance scores were significantly higher for the experimental group compared to the control group. The experimental group washed their hands significantly more often when entering and leaving patients' rooms than the control group.
CONCLUSION
Infection control education for family members of VRE patients was effective in improving knowledge and performance of infection control measures as well as improving the practice of hand washing. Further investigation is needed on the effects of infection control education for families on the actual VRE colonization and/or infection rate.