Education Needs Assessment on Healthcare Provider Safety & Hygiene

This report presents an Education Needs Assessment (ENA) conducted to address safety and hygiene concerns among healthcare providers at Bethesda Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. The study identifies the educational gaps related to infection control practices, particularly hand hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment. The assessment explores the background of the issue, including a review of relevant literature highlighting the importance of ENA in developing effective education programs. Data collection methods, primarily questionnaires, are discussed, along with the implementation strategy. The results section details thematic analysis of the findings, leading to specific recommendations for an education program designed to improve healthcare provider safety and hygiene. The report also addresses challenges encountered during the ENA process and concludes with a summary of the key findings and their implications for improving healthcare practices.

Education Needs Assessment

Table of Contents
TOPIC – To improve the education level in regards to safety and hygiene of healthcare providers
considering the education needs assessment. .................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................................1
Literature to critically appraise the use of an ENA in relation to education program
development...........................................................................................................................2
Population group of ENA.......................................................................................................3
Rationale for undertaking the ENA to the literature..............................................................3
Educational Gap.....................................................................................................................4
Rationale for your prediction..................................................................................................4
DATA COLLECTION....................................................................................................................4
Summarize the selection.........................................................................................................4
Rationale for choice of tool....................................................................................................5
Implementation strategy of the ENA......................................................................................5
RESULTS........................................................................................................................................8
Thematic Analysis..................................................................................................................8
RECOMMENDATIONS...............................................................................................................13
Outline for a proposed education program...........................................................................13
Challenges/ successes encountered when undertaking the ENA.........................................14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................16

TOPIC – To improve the education level in regards to safety and hygiene of
healthcare providers considering the education needs assessment.
INTRODUCTION
Education needs assessment can be defined as a continuous process to identify gaps
between actual position of a particular study and the desired state. Imparting Education always
has particular set of objectives which have to be fulfilled. It is very important to know that, if
those objectives are being achieved or not. In present time, it can be said that assessment is very
essential part of every education system Thomas and et. al., (Eds.). (2016). Through this, proper
analysis can easily be done of the actual position of a particular desired goal, which can be
anything from future program within healthcare sector. It has been analysed that both safety and
hygiene of healthcare providers have been something, which got affected over the years while
treating patients. In order to reduce these numbers, an education needs assessment has been done
on healthcare providers of Bethesda Hospital Melbourne, Australia. Background of this report
will cover a few range of literature sources in regards to the chosen topic and data collection will
be done of a targeted population group. Assignment is also going to be enclosed with strategy
implementation as it will be analysed for better outcomes.
BACKGROUND
Case, which has been taken is of Bethesda Hospital, Melbourne which was found in the
year of 1943. Vital reason behind conducting the investigation on this case is that, recently
number of healthcare providers has started facing problems in regards to their cleanliness,
hygiene and safety. In a few years, number of healthcare professionals has been through both
common and severe infections, through getting into contact with patients. This raised questions
on the hospital's profile in all over the world, which made this hospital's health professions
educators to develop the education needs assessment to educate their healthcare providers that
how, their hygiene can get affected and what they require to do in order to reduce the chances of
getting in contact with any sort of infection (common or severe). It has been found that, most
germs that cause serious infections in healthcare are spread by people’s actions Lamba and et.
al., (2012). Hand hygiene is a great way to prevent infections. However, studies show that on
average, healthcare providers clean their hands less than half of the times they should.
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Literature to critically appraise the use of an ENA in relation to education program development
According to Hall and et. al., (2016), building an education program without ENA, could
lead health professions educators to develop a less effective education program. ENA plays a
crucial role in meeting desired goals, if it is talk about present case where the healthcare
providers have been dealing with safety and hygiene related issues of their own while treating
patients at Bethesda Hospital, Melbourne. This made profession educators to develop education
so that, education can be provided to healthcare providers in regard to the issues that they are
facing. But, without performing Education needs assessment (ENA), an education program
cannot be developed, as it will not benefit or educate professionals within the healthcare
department to deal with issue which has been faced by them. Germs accumulation basically,
plays a major role in causing infections. Many studies have been conducted by researchers,
which has proved that healthcare providers sometimes, are not much concerned about their
personal hygiene, even when they are aware of the fact that they could get infected. Patients or
healthcare providers while undergoing treatment, surgery are at risk of getting infected with any
other disease apart from which they are being treated. In regards to ENA, healthcare providers
must realize their current state and desired goal which they want to achieve. For example, in
Bethesda hospital in Melbourne within a one month, there is always a case being found where a
healthcare provider falls sick or gets infected while treating patients. This is there present state
and their goal regarding this is to make sure that no health care provider gets inflected. On the
other hand, ENA is a tool which will be used to educate these health care providers so that they
become able to bridge the gap between their present and desired position. Considering the above
case, it can easily be said that personal hygiene, education, is somewhere lacking Emenike and
et. al., (2013).
According to Johnston-Hanson, (2012), attempts must be made by healthcare providers to
clean their hands as many times as they can, just after treating or performing a surgery.
Especially, whenever a healthcare service provider is coming in contact of any patient. For
meeting them, doing their treatment or diagnosing any patient care must be taken by healthcare
providers. They must always sanitize their hands, take bath properly or take in use of an alcohol
based sanitizer which can act as perfect cleanser to kill germs or prevent from infection. This
will only take a minimal time of 20 seconds but will act as a measure for occurrence of any type
of future disease or infection to them or their patients. In some cases, when healthcare providers
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has done the surgery of any patient, it is advisable that washing or sanitizing hands is also not
enough. Health care providers must preferably take bath in these situations to prevent occurrence
of any sort of infections. Another attempt can be to keep separate clothes and change them time
to time, this will also act as a preventive effort on their part. But, it has been found that due to
various concerns like emergency or any other situation keeps them serving to patients, which can
be a chance of severe infection Noh & Lim, (2015).
Population group of ENA
The population, which has been taken into consideration for ENA i.e. healthcare
providers and professionals that are serving to patients within Bethesda Hospital, Melbourne.
They have been chosen due to the case, where one healthcare provider in a month was getting
sick or infected Schinasi and et. al., (2013). This concern is basically increasing every month,
which made health professions educators to develop the healthcare program with the help of
ENA to ensure these increasing numbers to come down. It has been analysed that, after when
coming into contact with any patient, it is duty and responsibility of healthcare provider to take
adequate measures. To prevent spreading and accumulation of germs. Proper hygiene and
cleanliness must be maintained by them. Also, serious efforts must be made by healthcare
providers to create awareness regarding maintaining their personal hygiene. Patients must also be
educated on various topics such as, how fast such germ can get accumulated and cause serious
infections. Whenever, there is any type of conversations are taking place between patient and
healthcare providers. Topics of personal hygiene must be included in list of precautions given to
every patient.
Rationale for undertaking the ENA to the literature
The vital reason behind choosing the ENA in regards the chosen topic i.e. “to improve
the education level in regards to safety and hygiene of healthcare providers considering the
education needs assessment”, is that in recent time a range of issues that came in front, which
impacted negatively personal hygiene, safety and cleanliness of healthcare providers and
professionals of Bethesda Hospital, MelbourneGlass and et. al., (2014). Increase in number of
diseases and infections, has pulled various concerns not only for the patients but, for
professionals and healthcare providers as well that are performing or serving to patients. Here,
getting into contact with patients basically raised number of risks for individual who is
performing services on patients. It has been analysed that, personal hygiene plays very crucial
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role for all healthcare providers as it deals with their health as well as their patients. They must
realize the importance of such small preventive measures, which will result into positive
outcomes. Contact with patients can't be avoided, but appropriate measures can easily reduce
causes of infections for both patients and healthcare providers. “Cleanliness count for safe
healthcare” is going to be developed as an educational program and a proper Education needs
assessment (ENA) must be undertaken to educate all healthcare providers. This would lead to
enhance the knowledge in regards to achieving their desired goals of personal hygiene.
Educational Gap
The educational gap, that has been taken into consideration or found is that one of the
healthcare provider within Bethesda Hospital, Melbourne gets sick due to infection and other
safety and hygiene reasons Stufflebeam and et. al., (2012). The desired goal of health professions
educators in present context is to emit all the reasons of healthcare providers to get the infection
from patients. Basically, healthcare providers of this hospital knows the reasons of why they are
getting infected and they have also taken a range of steps so that they could get less affected of
infection and other type of sickness. But, they do not have knowledge in regards to how they can
stay fully safe or develop prevention related strategies from getting infection from patients they
are serving treatments or performing surgery. Here, this educational gap of prevention from
different range of infection has been taken into consideration so that to improve knowledge of
healthcare providers that how, they can sanitize themselves in much appropriate sense.
Rationale for your prediction
Reason behind taking into consideration of above mentioned educational gap is that,
healthcare providers of Bethesda Hospital, Melbourne has started falling sick in increasing
numbers Cook and et. al.,(2015). They were also aware of many sanitising solutions and more
but still, number of sick cases among healthcare providers were still rising. It has became vital
for the reputation of the hospital and raised other concerns as well for healthcare providers of this
health institute. This made the researcher to take into consideration of this topic.
DATA COLLECTION
Summarize the selection
Questionnaire (Survey) is being considered as the Education needs assessment (ENA)
data collection tool, which has been taken into consideration of this tool. With the help of this
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tool, health professions educators would directly gain access to the educational gap that
healthcare providers of Bethesda Hospital, Melbourne were dealing with, which raised number
of concerns for their own health related issues Asghari, Samadi & Rashidian, (2013).
Rationale for choice of tool
The fundamental reason behind choosing the questionnaire is that, it will provide
authentic information in regards to the chosen topic. On the other hand, another vital reason that
came in front i.e. this type of ENA data collecting tool is less time taking from others Bigbee,
Rainwater & Butani, (2016).
Implementation strategy of the ENA
The implementation strategy has been presented underneath:
QUESTONNAIRE
Q1. Is it important for you, to enhance the knowledge in regards to personal cleanliness, safety
and hygiene?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2. As per your thoughts, what control measures are required to be undertaken by healthcare
providers while treating patients in order to prevent from infections ?
a) Gloves
b) Masks
c) Gowns
d) Use of sanitizing liquids
Q3. Do you think if, healthcare providers requires to have proper precautions while performing
a surgery ?
a) Yes
b) No
Q4. What are the challenges that can be faced by healthcare providers of Bethesda Hospital,
Melbourne while treating patients with severe condition ?
a) Concern related to their own health conditions
b) Concern related to mental health conditions
c) Collaboration with family of patients with severe condition
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Q5. What are the reasons due to, which infection among healthcare practitioners is increasing ?
a) Low quality sanitising products
b) Carelessness
c) Low hygiene level
Q6. As per your thoughts, what are the benefits of having an effective healthcare program
related to health conditions of healthcare providers?
a) Spreading awareness in medical industry
b) Feasible solutions in regards to prevention of infection
Q7. What factors are required to be considered while conducting the healthcare educator
program ?
a) Recent emerging disease causes
b) Failure of previously developed policies
Q8. As per your views, what will be the response of developing an effective healthcare program
for well-being conditions of healthcare providers ?
a) Improvement of standardisation within the health conditions
b) Declining number of sickness among healthcare practitioners
Q9. As per your perception, which kind of influence medical industry will carry after
developing an effective healthcare program for Bethesda Hospital, Melbourne ?
a) Positive influence
b) Negative influence
Q10. Any recommendations ?
Frequencies provided
Q1. Is it important for you, to enhance the knowledge in regards to personal
cleanliness, safety and hygiene?
Frequency
a) Yes 25
b) No 5
Q2. As per your thoughts, what control measures are required to be undertaken
by healthcare providers while treating patients in order to prevent from
infections ?
Frequency
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a) Gloves 7
b) Masks 6
c) Gowns 8
d) Use of sanitizing liquids 9
Q3. Do you think if, healthcare providers requires to have proper precautions
while performing a surgery ?
Frequency
a) Yes 26
b) No 4
Q4. What are the challenges that can be faced by healthcare providers of
Bethesda Hospital, Melbourne while treating patients with severe condition ?
Frequency
a) Concern related to their own health conditions 10
b) Concern related to mental health conditions 10
c) Collaboration with family of patients with severe condition 10
Q5. What are the reasons due to, which infection among healthcare practitioners
is increasing ?
Frequency
a) Low quality sanitising products 9
b) Carelessness 11
c) Low hygiene level 10
Q6. As per your thoughts, what are the benefits of having an effective healthcare
program related to health conditions of healthcare providers?
Frequency
a) Spreading awareness in medical industry 15
b) Feasible solutions in regards to prevention of infection 15
Q7. What factors are required to be considered while conducting the healthcare
educator program ?
Frequency
a) Recent emerging disease causes 18
b) Failure of previously developed policies 12
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Q8. As per your views, what will be the response of developing an effective
healthcare program for well-being conditions of healthcare providers ?
Frequency
a) Improvement of standardisation within the health conditions 12
b) Declining number of sickness among healthcare practitioners 18
Q9. As per your perception, which kind of influence medical industry will carry
after developing an effective healthcare program for Bethesda Hospital,
Melbourne ?
Frequency
a) Positive influence 14
b) Negative influence 16
RESULTS
In order to analyse the result, proper analysis has been done of the collected data with the
help of thematic analysis Altschuld & Watkins, (2014). Basically, interpretations is being
performed of data, which has been accumulated.
Thematic Analysis
THEME 1 : Knowledge in regards to personal cleanliness, safety and hygiene
Q1. Is it important for you, to enhance the knowledge in regards to personal
cleanliness, safety and hygiene?
Frequency
a) Yes 25
b) No 5
8
25
5
a) Yes
b) No

INTERPRETATION : With above information, it is clear that 25 out of 30 respondents
were in favour of this view that enhancement of knowledge could prevent healthcare providers
from getting infections. Rest of 5 respondents declined to same statement.
THEME 2 : Control measures are required to be undertaken by healthcare providers while
treating patients in order to prevent from infections
Q2. As per your thoughts, what control measures are required to be undertaken
by healthcare providers while treating patients in order to prevent from
infections ?
Frequency
a) Gloves 7
b) Masks 6
c) Gowns 8
d) Use of sanitizing liquids 9
INTERPRETATION : Above view of respondent reflect that all control measures are
equally important for healthcare providers. But majority of them 9 preferred sanitizers, 8 gowns,
7 gloves and least importance was given to masks.
THEME 3 : Healthcare providers requires to have proper precautions while performing a
surgery
Q3. Do you think if, healthcare providers requires to have proper precautions
while performing a surgery ?
Frequency
a) Yes 26
9
7
6
8
9 a) Gloves
b) Masks
c) Gowns
d) Use of sanitizing
liquids