Projektname
Healthcare associated Influenza Prevention Study

Projektleitung
Dunja Nicca
Matthias Schlegel 

INS-Projektteam
Dunja Nicca
Jasmina Bogdanovic

Externe Projektpartner
Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen (Matthias Schlegel, Domenica Flury, Rolf Kuhn & Manuela Rasi) | University Hospital Basel (Anja Ulrich, Florian Banderet, Bettina Steinle) | Cantonal Hospital Luzern (Sonja Bertschy) | Cantonal Hospital Chur (Alexia Cusini) | Claraspital Basel (Manfred Reinarz)

Ort der Datenerhebung
– University Hospital Basel
– Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen
– Cantonal Hospital Chur
– Cantonal Hospital Luzern
– Claraspital Basel

Laufzeit
2015 bis 2021

Projektbeschreibung
Hintergrund
Influenza infections are associated with higher morbidity and mortality in chronically ill and elderly patients. To avoid nosocomial infections, preventive strategies have focused strongly on vaccination coverage in health care providers. However implementation in hospital settings is often not successful with differences at the level of profession and discipline. Although other preventive strategies such as hand hygiene, facial-masks and isolation have been discussed, there is paucity on process and outcome research.

Zielsetzung
The Healthcare –associated Influenza Prevention study (HaIP) is a program of studies focusing on the reduction of influenza in acute hospital settings. More specifically the HaIP program aims to:
·  Develop and test a complex intervention to improve prevention behavior and outcomes in hospital settings
·  Develop standardized methods to assess nosocomial influenza infections and adherence to preventive behaviors in health care workers

Design/Methode
Methodologically the study program is informed by the Medical Research Framework (MRC) for development and evaluation of complex intervention. Quantitative and qualitative research methods will be used and combined according to the broad logic of the inquiry. Broadly this includes 3 work packages (WS1 intervention development, WS2 development and implementation of surveillance, WS3 implementation and testing of the intervention program)

WS1: For intervention development, qualitative interviews and focus-groups will be conducted with target groups. Based on this data a questionnaire will be developed and pilot-tested assessing changes in influenza prevention- behavior, attitudes and culture. Based on the generated evidence an intervention program will be developed and pilot tested using a participatory approach involving different stakeholders.

WS2: For the implementation of the surveillance system, measurement and documentation of nosocomial influenza, vaccination rates, adherence to hand hygiene and masks, isolation and other factors will be standardized and tested. Implementation of surveillance includes teaching of key players and is conducted in a step-wise approach across hospitals.

WS3: For implementation and evaluation of the intervention program a mixed methods design will be used, and has been adapted to the changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Erwarteter Nutzen / Relevanz
Nosocomial influenza is a serious health problem for chronically ill and immunocompromised patient groups. This study will improve understanding of the problem by generating systematic and comparable surveillance data. Additionally the intervention program used in this study will be based on comprehensive contextual knowledge and extend the so far heavily vaccination and education focused approaches. The program provides extensive data to understand the response to intervention and it’s mechanism in a complex setting. With that it has the potential to improve outcomes of nosocomial influenza.