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Teaching and learning in infection controlThere is minimal literature around the education of student nursesor midwives in practice with regards to infection control. Wu et al.(2009) performed a cross-sectional survey of student nurses andreported that student nurses had low levels of knowledge regardingstandard infection control precautions. The ability of students to applyinfection control precautions in practice was also inadequate. Thesefindings could indicate a need for a more comprehensive educationprogramme for student nurses which clearly links theory withpractice. The study was carried out in Taiwan and is therefore notnecessarily an indication of such an issue in other areas of the worldand the lack of research available in this area leads to difficulties indetermining any differences and similarities between differentcountries.Nichols and Badger (2008) reported on a study which investigatedthe sources of knowledge used by nurses to underpin their clinicalinfection control practices. This study combined interviews andobservation. The authors reported that there was a clear preferencefor learning in practice as opposed to from more formal sources. Therewas also an indication of tacit learning being used to underpin goodpractice, though when tacit learning was not congruent with the usualstandards of good practice, such learning could contribute to poorpractice.The limited literature in this area highlights the need for furtherresearch around infection control education in practice.Teaching and learning methods in all areas of practice have changedover time with a move from the traditional didactic methods to moreinteractive approaches (Quinn and Hughes, 2007). The importance ofeducational approaches in increasing knowledge has been highlightedin the literature (Beers and Bowden, 2005, Walker et al., 2007). This hasbeen identified specifically in infection prevention and control. Gouldand Chamberlain (1997), for example, reported on a quasi-experimentalstudy which compared a group receiving theory and practicaldemonstration sessions with a control group. There were no changes inperformance in either group and the authors acknowledged that therewere important elements which were not combined with educationwhich may have had a more noticeable impact. This seems to relate topreviously discussed literature with no clear link between educationand improvements in practice. The approach of combining theory withpractical demonstration did evaluate well with staff which raisesquestions about the validity of evaluation of teaching sessions if, whilesessions are evaluated well by staff, there is no identifiable change inpractice as a result of the educational input.A mixed-methods study carried out in Scotland (West et al., 2006)aimed to evaluate a national education programme. Healthcare staff,70% of who were nurses, stated that the education programmeimproved their ability to challenge the practice of others and to act asa role model. The programme met its initial aims of providing coreknowledge and skills in infection control. The fact that the programmecombined different formats was identified as a positive aspect whichindicated that staff appreciate a choice in teaching approaches. Itneeds to be acknowledged, therefore, that this evaluation reported onthe views of staff rather than on whether abilities had actuallyimproved.The comparison of teaching approaches is common in the healthprofessional literature (Shields et al., 2003, Bradley-Springer et al.,2006). Reime et al. (2008) compared e-learning with lectures forteaching infection control to student nurses. This mixed-methodsstudy utilised questionnaires and focus groups and it was reportedthat students liked both methods equally. There was also nosignificant difference in examination results in topics relating tostandard infection control precautions and isolation. This study didhighlight that students appreciate a variety of educationalapproaches. This finding was echoed by Mikkelsen et al. (2007) whofound that scenario-based simulation training made students moreaware of the complexities of care situations, according to studentnurses participating in focus groups. This method was preferred toother interactive approaches. E-learning was also investigated byBryce et al. (2008) who reported high rates of user satisfaction andeffective transferral of knowledge to practice. In a less developedcountry (El Salvador), Caniza et al. (2007) reported that there wereless sophisticated methods of educational delivery. There was still adifference in multiple choice responses between staff receivingeducation by video and those by flip chart. The study focused onhand hygiene and involved only 67 nurses and only 10 multiple choicequestions were used. It became clear that there was similarknowledge acquisition in both
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