157055 Reducing exposure to bloodborne pathogens in home care: Small group activity training sessions for classes exceeding 200 participants

Wednesday, November 7, 2007: 9:30 AM

Shakirudeen Amuwo, MPH , School of Public Health, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, University Of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Leslie A. Nickels, MS , Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, Chicago, IL
Joseph Zanoni, MILR , Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, Chicago, IL
Joy Pritchett, MS , Social Change Group/Center for Social Marketing and Behavior Change, Academy for Educational Development, Washington, DC
Rosemary K. Sokas, MD, MOH, MSc , Office of Occupational Medicine, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Washington, DC
Jane Lipscomb, PhD, RN , School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
It is estimated that there are approximately 20,000 home care agencies that employ over 670,000 personal care attendants (PCA) serving more than 7 million individuals each year in the United States. As part of a study examining occupational exposure to blood and bloodborne pathogens in home care and strategies reducing these exposures, we developed and implemented a seven hour in-service training course for PCA's. The training used small group interactive activities and was conducted for all employees from a large homecare agency as part of a mandatory quarterly in-service program. Class size ranged from 200-400 participants/session for a total of 1006 participants. The course was implemented using facilitators from academic/research institutions, and PCA's and supervisors from the homecare agency. The program evaluation included a participant satisfaction critique for first the session. 198 satisfaction critiques were received and 90% stated participants learned something new about risks for exposure to blood or the use personal protective equipment. A “head, hands, heart” evaluation exercise was conducted during two following sessions. In this exercise participants indicated one thing they learned, they would do differently, and that moved them. Of the 234 group responses from these exercises, 95% revealed technically accurate information. The most common themes included the ability to identify risks associated with body fluid contact, and the use of universal precautions as the way to reduce exposure. Inaccurate information submitted by participants was related to the over use of personal protective equipment and worker's right to know clients HIV status.

Learning Objectives:
Describe effective partnerships for implementing and sustaining health and safety training programs. Describe how small group intervention strategies can be adapted to work in large group settings. Describe intervention effectiveness of training to increase awareness of homecare health and safety hazards.

Keywords: Training, Workplace Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.