Healthcare Worker Perspectives of Their Motivation to Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections

Abstract

Background: Health care-associated infections (HAIs) are largely preventable but impose significant burdens on health care systems. Many institutions have adopted bundled interventions to mitigate HAIs due to their high costs. However, the individual behaviors and motivations crucial for effective and sustained implementation of these interventions have not been thoroughly examined. This study aims to assess the motivations of health care workers in reducing HAIs.

Methods: We conducted a phenomenological qualitative study involving health care workers from various roles within a university hospital. Participants were recruited using a snowball sampling method. Utilizing concepts from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research model, we conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews to explore health care workers' perceptions of motivation to adhere to protocols for preventing HAIs.

Results: Among the diverse health care workers interviewed, the primary motivators for reducing HAIs were patient safety and improved clinical outcomes. Additionally, factors such as a collaborative environment valuing individual input, transparent feedback at organizational and individual levels, leadership engagement, and ongoing training and workshops were identified as important motivators. Notably, policy considerations, regulatory factors, or financial penalties were not significant motivators.

Conclusions: Health care workers view patient safety and clinical outcomes as the key drivers for reducing HAIs. Effective leadership involvement, data-driven interventions with regular performance feedback, and a supportive organizational culture were also highlighted as critical facilitators for HAI prevention.