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1 – 10 of 17Hospital cleaning and healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) continue to attract adverse media attention and consumer concern. Parallels exist with similar publicity relating to…
Abstract
Purpose
Hospital cleaning and healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) continue to attract adverse media attention and consumer concern. Parallels exist with similar publicity relating to cleaning and food safety in the food industry almost 13 years earlier. This paper examines some of the management solutions developed in the food industry, and discusses their application to healthcare delivery.
Design/methodology/approach
The food industry is managing food safety by adopting a dual approach based on pre‐requisite programmes and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP). How these differ is described and how the approaches and terminology can be adapted for use in healthcare is discussed.
Findings
The food industry is moving towards external certification of safety using national and international standards. The HACCP approach, a management tool and a central requirement of these standards, is evolving and there is interest worldwide from the healthcare community. Its application to the decontamination of endoscopes, using conventional HACCP, is presented, as well as suggestions for a simplified format for managing patient‐related procedures. Taking this type of approach to the management of HCAIs could provide greater transparency, reduce infection rates and increase consumer confidence.
Practical implications
Potential problems in adopting HACCP, including cost and human resource, are discussed.
Originality/value
The HACCP method/approach has previously been mentioned in the medical literature but this paper is one of the few to examine, from basic principles, its infection control application within a broader approach to quality assurance.
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This paper aims to examine the policy and guidance that was issued, either as a direct result of the NHS Plan, or part of a subsequent initiative, surrounding cleaning in the NHS.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the policy and guidance that was issued, either as a direct result of the NHS Plan, or part of a subsequent initiative, surrounding cleaning in the NHS.
Design/methodology/approach
A literature review of the Department of Health and related agency web sites was completed. In addition there was a literature review of the relevant academic journals.
Findings
There is a growing evidence base on environmental cleaning in the NHS and more specifically the relationship between environmental cleaning and infection control. This paper has examined the contradiction in the evidence in the suspected correlation between infection control and environmental cleaning. However, one thing that does appear to be consistent is that a performance measure based on an observation (visual) assessment is not a sufficient tool to evaluate the environmental cleanliness of a hospital ward.
Practical implications
While the clinical community recognise the contribution of environmental cleaning and the impact on healthcare, more needs to be done to have the relevant studies published in the FM domain. Conversely there also needs to be work done to allow the FM community to have a “voice” in the infection control journals. The literature reviewed suggests that a usable technological solution is required to confirm satisfactory cleaning standards in healthcare facilities.
Originality/value
There is relatively little published work on the importance of cleaning to operations in the NHS, particularly in the FM domain.
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Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.
Abstract
Purpose
Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.
Design/methodology/approach
This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.
Findings
The “Design Bugs Out” project, which is part of the larger NHS and Department of Health's “HCAI (Healthcare Associated Infections) Technology Innovation Programme”, has brought designers together with clinical specialists, patients and frontline staff to test an innovative approach to procurement. The result is eleven prototypes of cutting edge designs that rethink the bedside environment, patient transport and everyday medical equipment, with the aim of helping the fight against MRSA and other (HCAIs). And, while initially intended for adoption by the NHS, these potential new products could prove viable additions for any health organization, especially given that The World Health Organization has estimated that at any given time, 1.4 million people worldwide suffer from healthcare acquired infections.
Originality/value
Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.
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Nur Aqlima Ramli, Emma Marinie Ahmad Zawawi, Nor Rima Muhamad Ariff and Nurul Nadiah Zainol
This study aims to identify and validate the environmental cleaning elements and performance criteria to prevent Covid-19 infection in health-care facilities.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify and validate the environmental cleaning elements and performance criteria to prevent Covid-19 infection in health-care facilities.
Design/methodology/approach
Eight elements and 38 performance criteria were identified from the literature, and a questionnaire survey that involved environmental cleaning experts was carried out. Content validity index was used to validate the content of the environmental cleaning elements and performance criteria in this study.
Findings
The result indicates that the performance criteria of “Finishes, furnishings” and “Equipment Maintenance Log” were not relevant to be applied in current fighting against Covid-19 infection in health care. However, the remaining 36 performance criteria were proved as relevant and acceptable.
Practical implications
The findings of this study can provide a significant contribution to the built environment industry. By knowing the environmental cleaning elements and performance criteria, efforts can be carried out to explore measures that can be taken to improve the environmental cleaning practice in health care to battle against Covid-19 infection.
Originality/value
This paper fulfils an identified need to study how environmental cleaning can be implemented in health-care facilities.
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Salman Yousaf, Mohammad Zubair Tauni and Fan Xiucheng
This study aims to focus on the internal audiences of a nation brand, i.e. the citizens of a country and is built on the theoretical premise that migration intentions (MIs…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to focus on the internal audiences of a nation brand, i.e. the citizens of a country and is built on the theoretical premise that migration intentions (MIs) prevalent among the skilled and educated elite of a home country signifies a weak nation brand.
Design/methodology/approach
Through the theoretical support of the migration motive theory of push and pull (Richmond, 1993), nation branding theory (Anholt, 2006) and the two-construct country image model (Roth and Diamantopoulos, 2009), the authors constructed a framework that incorporates the relationship between affective and cognitive country images of both home and migrant country and migration motives and intentions to migrate.
Findings
The findings reveal that push and pull factors are strongly affected by the images of the home country and the migrant country, respectively and strong home country images are associated with weak MIs, while the opposite is true if a strong migrant country image is possessed. Further, evidence of the dominance effect of cognitive images in complex decision-making environments such as migration was also provided. Moreover, the results also suggest significant differences between Chinese and Pakistani respondents.
Practical implications
This study guides nation branding researchers by opening up a debate on self-images and conceptually independent attitudinal constructs of country image. For policymakers in developing countries, the results reveal that they should primarily strengthen their internal brands and focus on cognitive images to stem the flow of brain drain.
Originality/value
This study takes the traditional country image debate to migration discourse, moves it forward, contextualizes it as a function of a nation’s brand strength and provides evidence that confluence of migration studies with the theoretical stream of nation branding can provide significant explanations for migrant behavior.
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The lack of conceptual approaches for organizing and expressing capabilities, usage and impact of intelligent machines (IMs) in work settings is an obstacle to moving beyond…
Abstract
Purpose
The lack of conceptual approaches for organizing and expressing capabilities, usage and impact of intelligent machines (IMs) in work settings is an obstacle to moving beyond isolated case examples, domain-specific studies, 2 × 2 frameworks and expert opinion in discussions of IMs and work. This paper's purpose is to illuminate many issues that often are not addressed directly in research, practice or punditry related to IMs. It pursues that purpose by presenting an integrated approach for identifying and organizing important aspects of analysis and evaluation related to IMs in work settings.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper integrates previously published ideas related to work systems (WSs), smart devices and systems, facets of work, roles and responsibilities of information systems, interactions between people and machines and a range of criteria for evaluating system performance.
Findings
Eight principles outline a straightforward and flexible approach for analyzing and evaluating IMs and the WSs that use them. Those principles are based on the above ideas.
Originality/value
This paper provides a novel approach for identifying design choices for situated use of IMs. The breadth, depth and integration of this approach address a gap in existing literature, which rarely aspires to this paper’s thoroughness in combining ideas that support the description, analysis, design and evaluation of situated uses of IMs.
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Health care associated infection has become a health service priority that transcends all clinical areas. Education is commonly cited as the cornerstone of effective practice on…
Abstract
Health care associated infection has become a health service priority that transcends all clinical areas. Education is commonly cited as the cornerstone of effective practice on the tacit assumption that the knowledgeable practitioner will execute their skills more effectively. Consequently, infection control training has become embedded within the pre‐registration curriculum, however, students undertaking the mental health branch have been critical of an unduly adult focus to the topic, which fails to address their specific educational requirements. An educational intervention based on a problem‐based learning approach was developed to address this contention. The intervention received a three‐way evaluation from students who attended the session, a mental health lecturer/ facilitator and an infection control educator/ adviser. The results suggest that students were able to develop salient material, which recognised the principles of infection control practice, while placing it in the context of mental health nursing. The students gave positive feedback in terms of the mode of teaching and the relevance of the content.
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Abstract
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– The purpose of this paper is to highlight the local, national and global actions from the UK to reduce the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on human health.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to highlight the local, national and global actions from the UK to reduce the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on human health.
Design/methodology/approach
Synthesis of UK government policy, surveillance and research on AMR.
Findings
Activities that are taking place by the UK government, public health and professional organisations are highlighted.
Originality/value
This paper describes the development and areas for action of the UK AMR strategy. It highlights the many interventions that are being delivered to reduce antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistant infections.
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Arif Mahmud, Mohd Najwadi Yusoff and Mohd Heikal Husin
The factors that motivate Generation Z individuals to use the Internet of Things for security purposes have yet to be explored. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to close a…
Abstract
Purpose
The factors that motivate Generation Z individuals to use the Internet of Things for security purposes have yet to be explored. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to close a research gap by verifying the protection motivation theory using gender as a moderator.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used a purposive sampling approach to collect data from Dhaka city, in which 370 valid responses were selected. Additionally, the quantitative and cross-sectional survey used a seven-point Likert scale. Afterward, the evaluation approach included three phases: a measurement model, a structural model and multi-group analysis.
Findings
Vulnerability, self-efficacy and response-efficacy were discovered to be critical predictors with a variance of 60.4%. Moreover, there was a significant disparity between males and females in two relationships, response efficacy and intention as well as response cost and intention.
Practical implications
This research expands our understanding of Generation Z consumers' behavioral intentions to take measures against household threats, allowing preventative programs to be improved. Further, in the case of applying coping strategies, a practical difference between males and females has been found that must be bridged through awareness campaigns.
Originality/value
This study has made a unique contribution to the information system literature. First, the role of protection motivation theory factors in addressing security concerns in homes has been assessed. Second, the coping evaluation process has a greater impact on users' intentions than the threat appraisal process. However, males and females use slightly different approaches to defending themselves against the threat.
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