Perceptions of Infection Control Practices and the use of Vignettes to Alter Infection Control Behavior: A Feasibility Study

AIM: To explore the perceptions of infection control practices among healthcare personnel and evaluate the use of authentic vignettes as a means to alter infection control behavior. METHOD: Four authentic vignettes were used as a part of reflective dialogues with healthcare personnel. An evaluation of the dialogues was performed with six healthcare personnel using the focus group technique. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The mind-set to help one another and do one’s best in every situation was described as a core aspect in preventing the transmission of microorganisms. Having support, taking personal responsibility, being knowledgeable about infection control practices, and having a reasonable workload were seen to play decisive roles in controlling the spread of infection. Discussing authentic comprehensible vignettes with colleagues during the allotted time was considered a valuable method for improving infection control practices. CONCLUSION: Meaningful insights on how best to use vignettes as a means to improve infection control practice were gained. These findings should be considered when designing theory-driven interventions in different contexts, which are aimed at improving infection control practices in health care.