[A survey on elements of an effective hospital infection control program for Korea]

The main purpose of this survey was to identify for elements of an effective hospital infection control program for Korea. Nurses and doctors who had participated in an education program for infection control or were responsible for hospital infection control were selected as data informers. The data were collected from 51 subjects by employing a Delphi technique in a series of three rounds from September 1, 1987, to March 31, 1988. In each round the responses to questionnaires were analyzed and the results were communicated back to the individuals. Finally 32 elements of effective hospital infection control program were reduced to 10 elements. 10 elements are as follows; 1) Hospital administrator's knowledge of importance and necessity for HIC (hospital infection control) 2) Supporting HIC administratively 3) Constituting infection control committee and role of ICC 4) Developing an educational program and providing a work manual for the hospital infection control staff 5) Educating and informing medical staff about hospital infection 6) Surveillance for hospital infection 7) Developing patient care technique 8) Controlling the hospital environment 9) Executing regular health examinations of all medical staff 10) Recruiting the medical staff sufficiently Three rankings of response rate about 32 elements are as follows: 1) Hiring a full time staff member for the HIC (66%) 2) Establishing a hospital policy and standards for the HIC (66%) 3) Activating the infection control committee and taking administrative action to support the ICC (63%) In addition the rankings of importance score by Likert 5 scale are as follows: 1) Washing hands scrupulously (4.88) 2) Nurses participation as key members of the ICC (4.75) 3) Reviewing and evaluating all ongoing aseptic techniques (4.69) In conclusion, first of all, administrative support must be given to hiring a full time staff member and to organization of infection control committee for the HIC in Korea.