University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School
Doi
Abstract
Patients in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at an increased risk of acquiring a healthcare-associated infection (HAI) due to multiple procedures, invasive lines, co-morbidities, and the care involved with a critically ill patient. A mobile cell phone used by a healthcare worker or parent of a patient can become contaminated and increase the risk of spreading harmful organisms which can cause infection. Pathogen transmission from healthcare worker or visitor to a patient happens when hands or other inanimate objects become contaminated with microorganisms and subsequently come in direct contact with the patient. Many hospitals lack specific guidelines that address mobile devices carried in the hands and pockets of healthcare workers and parents who venture into a NICU room. This study used a mixed-methods approach to understand possible barriers and facilitators to mobile device disinfection for healthcare workers and parents of patients in the NICU. The goal was to identify environmental and behavioral interventions that help healthcare workers and parents of NICU patients increase phone disinfection practices. Lessons learned from this study show that there is a need for a mobile device disinfection program in all hospital NICUs. The plan for change will guide the UNC Health system to implement a safe mobile device disinfection policy and protocol for use in all NICU settings to help prevent HAIs in patients.Doctor of Public Healt
