Playing games helps control hospital infections

Games based learning may provide an innovative approach to the control of health care associated infections in hospitals.

Learning consultants at VEGA, are working with two NHS Trusts, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, and North West Ambulance Service Trust, using video games, also known as game-based learning, to encourage improved infection control awareness and adherence to procedures.

The Health Protection Agency's fifth annual conference, taking place at the University of Warwick from September 17 -19 2007, will hear from Steve Jarvis, from VEGA, who is working with both NHS Trusts on the games based learning project. Steve says: “Initial findings from our research show that the attitude of healthcare workers is a factor in whether they choose to adhere to infection control policies. We are currently investigating how and when we could use games-based learning when training healthcare workers about infection control issues. If we can use games to engage people we have the potential to create more effective training and learning.”

The conference which brings together more than a thousand health and scientific professionals, including leading experts from across the Agency, and from partner organisations offers in depth presentations on the latest work in key areas of health protection, including Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI).  Symposiums on HCAIs titled ‘What works and what doesn't – Changing behaviour of individuals to control HCAI' will be taking place each day of the conference. 

Presentations at the first HCAI symposium, on Monday 17th September, will also look at current strategies such as the Cleanyourhands (CYH) campaign which is a four year campaign launched in September 2004. It aims to improve hand-hygiene through the use of alcohol based handrubs by healthcare workers and the use of posters and patient leaflets, to see if this improves hand-hygiene. 

The CYH campaign addresses the many complex reasons behind low compliance with hand cleaning, and has now been adopted by all acute NHS organizations in England Wales. The National Observational Study of the Effectiveness of the CYH campaign provides an independent assessment of the campaign.

Sheldon Stone, the principal investigator, from the Royal Free and University College Medical School , says: “Our study shows that the campaign has been effective in changing hand hygiene behaviour. There was a highly significant and sustained increase in alcohol handrub use and a trend towards increased soap use. Even 18 months after the campaign was rolled out, 90% of trusts have alcohol handrub at the bedside in most wards and in 76% of Trusts the campaign is still a high priority”.   

http://www.hpa.org.uk/