Veteran patient perceptions of a universal gloving intervention for health care-associated infection prevention: A qualitative study.

Abstract

Background: Universal gloving by health care workers (HCW) for all patient care activities (beyond isolation and standard precautions) has been proposed to reduce health care-associated infection transmission, but patient perceptions of this approach are unclear. We interviewed patients who experienced a universal gloving intervention by HCW within Veterans Affairs inpatient acute care units to understand their perceptions of universal gloving.

Methods: We conducted interviews with 15 patients across 5 Veterans Affairs hospitals. We used a rapid qualitative inquiry approach to analyze interview transcripts and identified patient perceptions of universal gloving regarding patient knowledge, patient experience, and HCW practice.

Results: Patients were highly supportive of HCW use of universal gloving, noting potential benefits for infection prevention, patient and HCW safety, and patient feelings of well-being and care. Patients also communicated support of universal gloving in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discussion: Universal gloving by HCW may support patients' feelings of safe and positive health care delivery.

Conclusions: Patients' positive perception of gloving may facilitate universal gloving as an infection prevention and control strategy.