UK College of Nursing Surveying Frontline Workers on Infection Control Knowledge
LEXINGTON, KY. (May 4, 2021) – Memorable images of frontline workers treating COVID-19 patients wearing gowns, masks, face shields and other personal protective equipment (PPE) are examples of infection control in practice. Infection control is critical in health care settings like hospitals and long-term care facilities where staff must care for patients with contagious illnesses while being mindful of their safety and the safety of other patients and staff. The spread of COVID-19 is the latest example of why it is imperative to follow infection control protocols.
Researchers from the University of Kentucky College of Nursing in collaboration with other state and University partners are surveying Kentucky frontline workers in order to improve infection control practices in health care settings as part of Project Firstline. The survey will gather information about healthcare workers’ current knowledge of infection control protocols and preferences for further training.
“I would recommend that all Kentucky health care workers, including nurses, take this survey as soon as they can,” said Julie Marfell, DNP, UK College of Nursing's lead investigator for Project Firstline. “We are trying to gauge both current knowledge of infection control protocols and preferences on further training.”
All frontline health care workers in Kentucky are encouraged to respond to the survey, including but not limited to physicians, nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy techs, lab staff, dietary staff, environmental services staff, caseworkers, and administrators. Survey responses will be used to develop infection control training materials relevant to modern health care settings. 200 randomly selected respondents will receive $50 gift cards.
The survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete and can be accessed here: Project Firstline - Kentucky survey
Project Firstline is a training collaborative of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in conjunction with public health and health care partners around the country. In Kentucky, Project Firstline is a collaborative project of Kentucky Department for Public Health, the University of Louisville Center for Education and Training in Infection Prevention, the UK College of Nursing and the Kentucky Nurses Association.
More information about Project Firstline is available at the below links. For more information or questions about Project Firstline in Kentucky, email project.firstline@uky.edu.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.