Title: Overcoming attitudes and perceptions towards the management of infections and waste in the hospital setting: a case study from the UK

Authors: Terry L. Tudor

Addresses: School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton, Northampton, NN2 6JD, UK

Abstract: The effective management of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) is a priority within the healthcare setting due to their impact on health outcomes and costs. This study explored the socio-psychological and situational variables that influenced the prevention and control of infections within the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, with a particular focus on the management of clinical waste. Interviews with senior managers and questionnaire surveys of staff were employed at three case study sites within the NHS in England. Three key factors, namely staff awareness; training in infection prevention and control and waste management; and length of time working at the site were found to be important determinants for perceptions. Suggestions on how to overcome the barriers identified are also suggested in the paper.

Keywords: HCAI; healthcare associated infections; medical waste; waste management; environmental behaviour; organisational behaviour; National Health Service; NHS; UK; United Kingdom; employee attitudes; perception determinants; hospitals; health outcomes; health costs; socio-psychological variables; situational variables; infection prevention; infection control; senior managers; England; staff awareness; staff training; medical staff; working time; behavioural research; healthcare research.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBHR.2011.043413

International Journal of Behavioural and Healthcare Research, 2011 Vol.2 No.4, pp.307 - 319

Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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