Grant: New Investigator Salary Award - PA: Knowledge Translation

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are an increasingly serious threat to the well-being of Canadians and the health care system. Despite the severity of the threat, evidence-based infection control programs can reduce HAIs. Researchers estimate that between 30% and 50% of health-care associated infections are preventable. While research has focused on modifying behaviour of healthcare workers, more research is needed on structural barriers to implementing infection control programs, policies, and practices. My previous research with hospital housekeepers and support workers in the Vancouver region uncovered some issues with understaffing, work stress and inadequate training among these workers after their jobs were privatized and outsourced. The proposed research builds on these findings to use qualitative research methods - including interviews with scholars, expert and stakeholder - in order to identify structural barriers to improving infection control and reducing HAIs, with a focus on MRSA and C.difficile in acute care settings, in the context of Vancouver metropolitan region. These interviews and regular think tank meetings that bring together experts and stakeholders will focus on identifying barriers and strategies to improve infection control and reduce HAIs with the goal of improving patient safety and quality of healthcare.