Revised Draft of Prospectus
Introduction
This revised draft of the prospectus aims to address the comments provided by the professor and incorporate the necessary changes. The prospectus outlines a quality improvement (QI) project that will utilize a quantitative methodology with a quasi-experimental design. The project will involve a pre-test, intervention, and post-test to assess the impact of an intervention on a specific clinical outcome. The purpose of this study is to identify whether the implementation of a standardized hand hygiene protocol in a hospital setting can reduce the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Background of the Problem
Healthcare-associated infections pose a significant threat to patient safety and contribute to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Numerous studies have shown that proper hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures to prevent the transmission of pathogens in healthcare settings. Despite this knowledge, healthcare workers often fail to adhere to hand hygiene guidelines consistently. This lack of compliance can lead to the spread of HAIs and compromise patient outcomes.
Theoretical Foundations
The theoretical framework that will guide this study is the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The TPB postulates that individuals’ behaviors are determined by their attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. In the context of hand hygiene, this theory suggests that healthcare workers’ adherence to hand hygiene guidelines is influenced by their attitudes towards hand hygiene, the perceived social norms in their environment, and their perceived control over their actions. By understanding these factors, interventions can be developed to promote hand hygiene compliance.
Review of the Literature/Themes
A comprehensive review of the literature has been conducted to examine the current evidence regarding hand hygiene practices and the impact on HAI rates. The review revealed several key themes, including the importance of hand hygiene in preventing HAIs, the barriers to hand hygiene compliance, and the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving hand hygiene practices. The literature also highlighted the need for further research to evaluate the impact of standardized hand hygiene protocols on HAI rates in different healthcare settings.
Problem Statement
The problem addressed in this study is the high incidence of healthcare-associated infections in a specific hospital setting. Despite existing hand hygiene guidelines, healthcare workers in this setting have suboptimal compliance rates, leading to an increased risk of nosocomial infections. This study aims to determine whether the implementation of a standardized hand hygiene protocol can improve compliance rates and reduce the incidence of HAIs in this particular setting.
Clinical Questions and Variables
The following clinical questions will guide this study:
1. What is the effect of implementing a standardized hand hygiene protocol on healthcare workers’ compliance rates?
2. Does the implementation of a standardized hand hygiene protocol reduce the incidence of healthcare-associated infections?
The primary variable of interest in this study is healthcare workers’ compliance rates with hand hygiene guidelines. The secondary variable is the incidence of healthcare-associated infections, specifically focusing on infections that can be prevented through hand hygiene compliance.
Significance of the Project
Reducing healthcare-associated infections is a significant priority in healthcare settings as these infections result in increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. This QI project has the potential to improve patient safety by implementing a standardized hand hygiene protocol that addresses the barriers to hand hygiene compliance. If successful, the findings from this study can be used to guide future interventions in other healthcare settings and contribute to the overall reduction of HAIs.
Rationale for Methodology
A quasi-experimental design will be utilized in this study to examine the impact of the intervention on hand hygiene compliance rates and HAI incidence. This design is appropriate as it allows for the comparison of pre-intervention and post-intervention data within the same healthcare setting, without the ability to randomize participants.
Nature of the Project Design
This project will involve a single-group pre-test/post-test design. Data will be collected before implementing the intervention (pre-test) and after the intervention (post-test) to assess changes in hand hygiene compliance rates and HAI incidence. The design will allow for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the intervention within the specific healthcare setting.
Purpose of the Project Design
The purpose of utilizing a quasi-experimental design in this project is to evaluate the impact of a standardized hand hygiene protocol on hand hygiene compliance rates and the incidence of HAIs. This study will contribute to the existing literature on hand hygiene practices and provide evidence-based recommendations for interventions in similar healthcare settings.
Instrumentation or Sources of Data
Data for this study will be collected using multiple sources. Hand hygiene compliance rates will be measured using direct observation, where trained observers will record healthcare workers’ adherence to hand hygiene guidelines. The incidence of HAIs will be obtained from the hospital’s infection control department, which routinely collects data on confirmed infections.
Data Collection Procedures
Before the implementation of the intervention, baseline data on hand hygiene compliance rates and HAI incidence will be collected. This will serve as the pre-test. After the intervention is implemented, data collection will continue to assess changes in hand hygiene compliance rates and HAI incidence. This will serve as the post-test. Data collection will occur over a period of six months to capture sufficient data for analysis.
Data Analysis Procedures
The data collected will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize the hand hygiene compliance rates and HAI incidence. Inferential statistics, such as chi-square tests and t-tests, will be conducted to examine the relationships between the intervention and the outcomes of interest.
Ethical Considerations
Ethical approval will be sought from the institution’s ethics committee prior to the initiation of data collection. Informed consent will be obtained from all healthcare workers participating in the study. Confidentiality and anonymity will be ensured by using unique identifiers rather than personal identifying information in data collection and analysis.
Appendix
This draft includes the previous version of the prospectus, including feedback from faculty, as an appendix to demonstrate the iterative process of developing the prospectus. The appendix provides a comprehensive overview of the changes made based on the instructor’s comments.
