title: A comprehensive educational approach to improving patient isolation practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a workable plan for the successful education of a large, diverse group of healthcare workers in a university hospital setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, nonrandomized study of compliance with infection control isolation practice following various educational interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  300-bed tertiary-care, academic medical center with out-patient clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital employees and contract workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The infection control department introduced a plan to implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new isolation guidelines. A comprehensive proposal was presented to administration. It included a time line for institution and a comprehensive educational and performance-improvement plan, including standard lectures and a video that explained Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions. Follow-up consisted of customized in-services and one-on-one continued education tailored to the individual units.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compliance with isolation procedure after standardized lectures and video alone was poor. Compliance improved after institution of smaller, more intensive in-services tailored to individual departments and given during all shifts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intensive, individualized education is the key to compliance. This requires sufficient infection control staffing and administrative support.
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio 45267-0560, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heitkemper
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kressel
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016357:Infection Control Practitioners / Q000193:education*; D009820:Ohio; D010356:Patient Isolation; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education; D011446:Prospective Studies