Adherence to infection prevention and control guidelines: A vignette-based study of decision-making and risk-taking in young adults with cystic fibrosis.
Balancing cystic fibrosis (CF) care with demands of normal life is associated with decreased adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines.



Adults with CF, aged 18-25years, were invited to participate via UK CF Trust social media platforms. An online survey evaluated participants' decision-making in nine clinician-rated vignettes and assessed the perceived influence of infection-related information sources.



Participants (n=87, mean 21.4years [SD=2.45]; 75% female) were less likely to engage in the high-risk scenarios, although demonstrated greater awareness of cross-infection than environmental risks. Associations between risk-perception and willingness to participate in five vignette-based hypothetical activities were significant (p<0.05). Thematic analysis emphasised influences of past experience and a need to achieve good quality of life. Knowledge gaps were evident.



People with CF make decisions that discriminate between risk-levels but are not always based on robust knowledge. They also show some inclination towards engaging in risky behaviours.
School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK. Electronic address: grace.bowmer@nhs.net.
Grace
G
Bowmer
Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. Electronic address: g.latchford@leeds.ac.uk.
Gary
G
Latchford
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK; Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; Regional Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK. Electronic address: alistair.duff1@nhs.net.
Alistair
A
Duff
Department of Microbiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK. Electronic address: milesdenton@nhs.net.
Miles
M
Denton
School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. Electronic address: l.dye@leeds.ac.uk.
Louise
L
Dye
School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. Electronic address: c.l.lawton@leeds.ac.uk.
Clare
C
Lawton
Regional Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK. Electronic address: tim.lee1@nhs.net.
Tim
T
Lee
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003657:Decision Making; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
Adherence; Cross-infection; Cystic fibrosis; Decision-making; Infection prevention and control