Factors influencing compliance to hygiene routines in community care - the viewpoint of medically responsible nurses in Sweden.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to describe factors influencing compliance to hygiene routines in community care in Swedish municipalities from the perspective of medically responsible nurses (MRN).


METHODS
A web-based questionnaire was sent to all MRNs in Swedish municipalities, N = 268. Beside demographical background data, the questionnaire contained two core open-ended questions generating free text data. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis.


RESULTS
Four categories of factors were found: resources, management, staff and external factors. All four categories contained subcategories.


CONCLUSIONS
To some extent, the challenges to uphold adequate compliance to hygiene routines seem different in community care than in hospitals. Resources regarding equipment and supplies seem as an uncertain asset and uneven distributed among municipalities. Home likeness was seen as a major obstacle for upholding adequate hygiene routines. To uphold sufficient hygiene routines in a person's home or in a home-like environment might be one of the major challenges for community health care in the future. The MRN's narratives suggest that Registered Nurses have a key role in upholding sufficient hygiene in community care. This report might contribute in providing them with more knowledge to take on this urgent task.
Ersta Sköndal University College, Department of Health Care Science, Stockholm, Sweden. Marianne.lindh@esh.se
Marianne
M
Lindh
Annica
A
Kihlgren
Kent-Inge
KI
Perseius
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D000078329:Workforce