Abstract
Context/objective: To assess guidance provided to staff at Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare facilities on H1N1 influenza infection control for veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). Study design: Cross-sectional qualitative semi-structured interviews. Setting: Thirty-three VA healthcare facilities from throughout the United States that provide care to veterans with SCI/D. Participants: Thirty-three infection control key informants, each representing a VA healthcare facility. Interventions: None. Outcome measures: Infection control practices, including vaccination practices, hospital preparedness, and recommendations for future pandemics, both in general and specifically to SCI/D. Results: Most (n = 26, 78.8%) infection control key informants believed veterans with SCI/D were at increased risk for influenza and complications, but only 17 (51.5%) said veterans with SCI/D were treated as a priority group for vaccination at their facilities. There was little special guidance provided for treating veterans with SCI/D, and most (n = 28, 84.8%) informants said that infection control procedures and recommendations were applied universally. Yet, 10 key informants discussed 'unique challenges' to infection control in the SCI/ D population. Informants discussed the potential for infectious agents to be spread through shared and common use equipment and the necessity of including caregivers in any vaccination or educational campaigns. Conclusion: Greater input by experts knowledgeable about SCI /D is recommended to adequately address pandemic influenza within healthcare facilities where individuals with SCI/D receive care.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 666-671 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2013 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Access to care
- Human
- Hygiene
- Immunization
- Infection control
- Influenza
- Pandemics
- Paraplegia
- Patient education
- Spinal cord injuries
- Tetraplegia
- Vaccination
- Veterans
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology