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

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.