Design and findings of a workshop to support infection prevention and control practices for pediatric oncology care in multi-partner hospitals in India

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

Abstract Background Infection in children with cancer can be prevented through effective infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. The Indian Childhood Cancer Initiative (ICCI), aimed at strengthening the Government of India’s program for pediatric cancer control, has 80 hospitals in 15 of 28 Indian states. The ICCI Supportive Care (SC) Task Force focuses to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in pediatric oncology (PO) by strengthening essential IPC interventions (IPC Essentials) including hand hygiene (HH), safe vascular access (VA), standard and transmission-based precautions (STP), and blood culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (BC/AST). We describe a participatory design workshop for refining a survey draft, and educational materials (lectures and workstations) to meet user needs. Methods The SC Task Force and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital team developed a 35-item IPC Essential educational needs assessment survey. Using a modified Delphi method, the survey was answered by 45 ICCI delegates (nurses, pediatricians and specialists of pediatric oncology, infections, and IPC) during an in-person workshop in Kolkata, India. Using Menti technology, survey responses were discussed, and changes annotated. Then, the team members presented the four IPC Essentials lectures and workstations (posters, pamphlets, and supplies). Attendees discussed, inquired, reviewed, and gave recommendations to optimize IPC Essentials materials. Using theory of change, we outlined a causal roadmap linking educational activities to learning outcomes proposed for IPC Essentials training implementation. Results The 45 delegates identified key institutional challenges for IPC Essentials adherence including lack of accountability for non-compliance (73%), limited awareness of IPC policies and procedures (P&P) (69%), poor compliance (62%), and lack of dedicated IPC staff (33%). Delegates suggested integrating IPC education into learning portfolios (83%) and using it as a professional development incentive (71%) to improve adherence. Overall, the lectures and workstations were well received and recommended standardized lesson plans across four IPC Essentials modules, developed a facilitator guide for the workstations and to use IPC institutional champions to facilitate training. Conclusion The workshop refined the needs assessment survey, educational lectures and workstations for frontline PO staff at ICCI institutions. Future directions include monthly virtual meetings with delegates to continue addressing identified challenges, and enablers to implement the PO staff needs assessment survey, and IPC Essential training. Strengthening the IPC capacity within ICCI institutions by focusing on the essentials might facilitate achieving the 2030 goal of meeting the 60% survival and 100% access in care quality.