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. 2023 Oct 11;23(1):758.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-023-04709-z.

Strengthening the role of hospital leadership in infection control (LEAD-IC) - a multimodal educational intervention in German acute care hospitals

Sonja Hansen  1   2 , Cornelius Remschmidt  3   4 , Christin Schröder  3   4 , Michael Behnke  3   4 , Petra Gastmeier  3   4
Affiliations

Strengthening the role of hospital leadership in infection control (LEAD-IC) - a multimodal educational intervention in German acute care hospitals

Sonja Hansen et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Background: The effect of leadership support for adherence to infection control and prevention (IPC) measures has been demonstrated. To expand this support, a target group-specific educational study for chief medical officers (CMO) was implemented and its influence on IPC indicators was investigated.

Methods: A controlled cohort study was conducted between 2018 and 2019. The intervention based on an initial workshop, an e-learning course, and a final meeting. Participants' activities involving IPC management were surveyed. Consumption of alcohol hand rub (AHR) and incidence density of hospital-associated (HA) Clostridioides difficile-associated infections (CDI) were analyzed.

Results: Eight percent of 360 CMOs invited participated in the initial workshop; 70% of those participants registered for the online course. Overall, 43% completed the post-intervention questionnaire, in which 85% of respondents reported increased collaboration with relevant stakeholders. The pre-intervention median AHR consumption was higher in the intervention group than in the control group. Both groups showed an increase (38.6 (interquartile range (IQR) 33.6; 45.0) to 41.9 ml/patient day (PD) (IQR 35.0; 56.6) and 33.4 (IQR 28.3; 40.8) to 35.8 ml/ PD (IQR 31.6; 43.2), respectively). Pre-intervention median HA CDI cases were lower in the intervention group than in the control group. Both groups reported a decrease (0.22 (IQR 0.17; 0.33) to 0.19 cases/1000 PD (IQR 0.15; 0.26) and 0.32 (IQR 0.2; 0.48) to 0.22 cases/1000 PD (IQR 0.11; 0.33), respectively).

Conclusion: Multimodal IPC training of CMOs is worthwhile and can lead to changes in IPC-relevant cooperation in hospitals. IPC training of hospital management should be further intensified.

Keywords: Hospital management; Infection prevention and control; Leadership; Patient safety; Training and education.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Median consumption of alcohol hand rub in 18 hospitals of the core group* *Only hospitals that recorded data continuously during the years 2017–2019
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Median incidence density of hospital-associated CDAD in 18 hospitals of the core group* *Only hospitals that recorded data continuously during the years 2017–2019
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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