A user assessment of a smaller hospital surveillance program

Forty-five infection control nurses responded to a survey that assessed a smaller hospital (<100 acute care beds) surveillance program. Most respondents (96.6%) agreed that participation in the program was useful. Only a few program elements that need further development were identified. Approximately half (52.3%) of the respondents agreed that the surveillance reports were easy to understand. The most frequent (72.9%) use of these reports was to present information to accreditation organizations. Approximately half (46.2% and 50%, respectively) of the respondents disagreed that the Web-based education package or the workplace visits by "educators" were useful.