Allied health infection control coordinators: A new link to infection control

BACKGROUND: Infection control (IC) was once considered to be related only to nursing, but IC problem have come to be seen as related to many healthcare issues inside the hospital. In the past, allied health professionals (AHPs) were overlooked when IC topics and issues arose. In the post-SARS era, however, such myths have been totally destroyed. Further training about basic IC concepts and advanced applications is absolutely necessary for allied health professionals, as they are among the most important mobile staff in Hong Kong. PROJECT: With the formation of the Allied Health Infection Control Coordinators Group, AHPs will be invited as representatives to hospital infection control teams, and their concerns related to IC can be addressed. AHPs come from various disciplines, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, medical laboratory technologists, podiatrists, prosthetists and orthotists, dietitians, medical physicists, and radiographers. RESULTS: A structured IC training program was designed in consultation with hospitalsʹ senior staff and representatives. A 4-day basic and advanced training was run with hospital visits and international consultations in between. A train-the-trainer format was adopted so that, after completing the course, participants could provide further training and could monitor the application of IC knowledge and practices in their own environments. Besides, during the training program, an effort was made to formulate, standardize, and align IC practice within the Hospital Authority with the aim of ensuring the future quality and standard of IC implementation. RESULTS: A total of 189 AHPs attended a 1-day basic IC training. Only 26.5% reported having attended a formal IC training program previously, and 88% stated that they were satisfied with the overall training program. From the overall pre-course and post-course assessment of their IC knowledge, between 54.8% and 73.4% scored significantly higher (by McNemar test, p < 0.05). Eighty of the attendees are being recruited for a 3-day advanced IC application training in 2005. CONCLUSION: Structured, train-the-trainer-format IC training proved to be significantly effective and satisfactory for participants, enhancing staff IC knowledge applications and concepts.