title: Assessing patient and caregiver understanding of and satisfaction with the use of contact isolation.
abstract: Contact isolation is a method used for limiting the spread of antimicrobial-resistant organisms when caring for patients. This policy has been linked to several adverse outcomes and less patient satisfaction. We assessed patient and caregiver understanding and satisfaction with the use of contact isolation.
  
  
  
  A prospective survey of >500 patients in contact isolation at our institution was performed during 2014. Participants responded to a series of statements relating to contact isolation, using a 5-point Likert scale. Responses were assessed for overall positivity or negativity and further compared according to floor type or designation.
  
  
  
  Of the patients, 48.7% responded to the survey; 70 caregivers also responded. Patient and caregiver responses were similar and were positive overall. Most respondents felt safer because of the use of contact isolation and because it prevented infections. A smaller majority of respondents also thought the policy was adequately explained to them and adhered to by staff.
  
  
  
  In the largest collection of respondents surveyed to date about contact isolation and its impact on them, the policy was viewed positively, both by patients and caregivers. There is still room for improvement in the area of patient education regarding the use of contact isolation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI; Department of Epidemiology, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI; Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI. Electronic address: paul.chittick@beaumont.edu.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chittick
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI.
authors.forename: Shalini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koppisetty
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI.
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI.
authors.forename: Akash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vadhavana
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Solanki
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI.
authors.forename: Kristi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cumming
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Agboto
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI.
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karl
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI; Department of Epidemiology, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI; Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Band
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D010361:Patients; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Contact isolation; nosocomial infection; patient safety; patient satisfaction