Patients' perspectives of healthcare-associated infection : ‘You don't know what impacts it will have on your life’

Journal article

Mitchell, B. G., Northcote, M., Rickett, C., Russo, P. L., Amin, M., De Sousa, F., Pearce, K., Sim, J. and Curryer, C.. (2022). Patients' perspectives of healthcare-associated infection : ‘You don't know what impacts it will have on your life’. Journal of Hospital Infection. 126, pp. 93-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2022.04.014
AuthorsMitchell, B. G., Northcote, M., Rickett, C., Russo, P. L., Amin, M., De Sousa, F., Pearce, K., Sim, J. and Curryer, C.
Abstract

Background
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are not present on admission but are contracted while a patient is undergoing hospital treatment. While the prevalence of HAIs, and their causes and treatments have been researched in various contexts to date, patients' perspectives of contracting and living with the consequences of an HAI remain under-researched.

Objective
To explore patients' experiences of having an HAI.

Methods
A qualitative phenomenological study that drew on data from semi-structured interviews was conducted in order to explore the lived experiences of patients who had recently contracted an HAI while in hospital. Participants were recruited from two Australian hospitals in 2019 and 2021. Telephone interviews were conducted with 10 participants by two research team members, and transcripts from these interviews were analysed qualitatively using a thematic coding process to identify the patients' perspectives of contracting an HAI.

Results
The participants had a range of different HAIs. The participants described how the experience of having an HAI can be very isolating and distressing from the patient's perspective, with life-long implications. This contributes to understanding of the way in which patients are impacted emotionally and mentally as a result of contracting an HAI.

Conclusion
There is a need for improved, person-centred communication about the source, treatment and prognosis of HAIs. The findings from this study indicate the importance of considering patients' voices in their own health care.

Keywordscross-infection; patients; persons; communication; nurses; healthcare-associated infection; person-centred care; patient coping; nurseepatient relationship; qualitative research; nursing; patient experience
Year2022
JournalJournal of Hospital Infection
Journal citation126, pp. 93-102
PublisherElsevier Ltd
ISSN0195-6701
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2022.04.014
PubMed ID35562072
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85133413294
Page range93-102
FunderCardinal Health Australia
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online25 Jun 2022
Publication process dates
Accepted29 Apr 2022
Deposited22 May 2025
Grant IDAPP2008392
Additional information

© 2022 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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