Influenza infection control guidance provided to staff at Veterans Affairs facilities for veterans with spinal cord injury during a pandemic(dagger)
UMass Chan Affiliations
Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Division of Health Informatics and Implementation ScienceDocument Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2013-11-01Keywords
Hospitals, VeteransHumans
Infection Control
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype
Influenza Vaccines
Influenza, Human
*Pandemics
Risk
*Spinal Cord Injuries
United States
Veterans
Health and Medical Administration
Health Services Administration
Infectious Disease
Influenza Humans
Nervous System Diseases
Neurology
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Show full item recordAbstract
CONTEXT/OBJECTIVE: To assess guidance provided to staff at Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare facilities on H1N1 influenza infection control for veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional qualitative semi-structured interviews. SETTING: Thirty-three VA healthcare facilities from throughout the United States that provide care to veterans with SCI/D. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-three infection control key informants, each representing a VA healthcare facility. INTERVENTIONS: None. OUTCOME MEASURES: Infection control practices, including vaccination practices, hospital preparedness, and recommendations for future pandemics, both in general and specifically to SCI/D. RESULTS: Most (n = 26, 78.8%) infection control key informants believed veterans with SCI/D were at increased risk for influenza and complications, but only 17 (51.5%) said veterans with SCI/D were treated as a priority group for vaccination at their facilities. There was little special guidance provided for treating veterans with SCI/D, and most (n = 28, 84.8%) informants said that infection control procedures and recommendations were applied universally. Yet, 10 key informants discussed 'unique challenges' to infection control in the SCI/D population. Informants discussed the potential for infectious agents to be spread through shared and common use equipment and the necessity of including caregivers in any vaccination or educational campaigns. CONCLUSION: Greater input by experts knowledgeable about SCI/D is recommended to adequately address pandemic influenza within healthcare facilities where individuals with SCI/D receive care.Source
J Spinal Cord Med. 2013 Nov;36(6):666-71. doi: 10.1179/2045772313Y.0000000112. Epub 2013 Apr 13. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.1179/2045772313Y.0000000112Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/30542PubMed ID
24090346Related Resources
Link to Article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1179/2045772313Y.0000000112
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