An in-depth investigation into the psychosocial factors affecting healthcare worker’s (HCW) compliance with surgical site infection (SSI) prevention interventions provides an insightful perspective into the practical aspects of infection prevention. Research was conducted across multiple hospitals in Germany, studying two distinct categories of professionals, physicians and nurses.
The study was based on the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) model, which revolves around three primary constructs that influence behavior – ‘capability,’ ‘opportunity,’ and ‘motivation.’ Each of these was assessed by self-reported questionnaires, distributed among HCWs in different departments. The goal was to identify psychosocial determinants that affect compliance, and in turn, help in designing targeted campaigns and interventions to improve adherence to recommended practices.
Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to validate the prospect of capability, motivation, measurement equivalence, and planning as reliable psychosocial determinants of compliance among physicians and nurses. The study found that the scales for capability, motivation, and planning were consistent, reliable, and equally applicable to both professional groups. However, the ‘opportunity’ scale, which measures external determinants, did not demonstrate similar validity or reliability.
The study suggests that a practitioner’s ‘capability’ and ‘planning’ are the most influential determinants on compliance with SSI preventive measures, especially for nurses. Accordingly, the study advocates tailoring preventive strategies based on these findings and implementing initiatives targeted at improving capability, motivation, and planning in healthcare environments.
In summary, by pursuing this focused approach, hospitals can significantly elevate surgical site infection prevention, ensure better patient outcomes, improve the professional growth of HCWs, and create a sustainable working environment. Future research might further refine these scales and extend this study to other relevant healthcare domains.