Notification card to alert for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is stigmatizing from the patient's point of view
(2014) In Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 46(6). p.440-446- Abstract
Background: The importance of alerting health care systems of patients carrying multidrug-resistant bacteria (MRB) is highlighted in numerous guidelines. In the absence of electronic alert systems, notification cards are often recommended, but have rarely been evaluated. We evaluated patient experiences of receiving and using a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) notification card. Methods: Two cohorts of patients given a card when identified for the first time as a carrier in 1999-2003 and 2008-2010, responded to questionnaires distributed in 2004 and 2011, respectively. The response rate in 2004 was 92 (38 females)/129 and in 2011 was 110 (55 females)/209. In addition, 63% and 49%, respectively, followed the... (More)
Background: The importance of alerting health care systems of patients carrying multidrug-resistant bacteria (MRB) is highlighted in numerous guidelines. In the absence of electronic alert systems, notification cards are often recommended, but have rarely been evaluated. We evaluated patient experiences of receiving and using a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) notification card. Methods: Two cohorts of patients given a card when identified for the first time as a carrier in 1999-2003 and 2008-2010, responded to questionnaires distributed in 2004 and 2011, respectively. The response rate in 2004 was 92 (38 females)/129 and in 2011 was 110 (55 females)/209. In addition, 63% and 49%, respectively, followed the encouragement to provide written comments to the questions. These were analysed using a qualitative method. Results: The patients took responsibility not to infect others, reported high usage, and acknowledged the importance of the card to inform health care institutions about their carrier status, despite experiencing fear, disrespect, lack of knowledge, and unprofessional behaviour when presenting it to personnel. Alarmingly these stigmatizing experiences were more frequent in 2011. Professional behaviour was reported from the infectious disease clinic. A majority of the patients were unaware of how they had acquired MRSA. Conclusions: The MRSA notification card was felt to stigmatize the patient, which makes its use questionable. Other alert methods need to be developed. Most importantly, the study demonstrates the importance for these patients to meet staff educated about MRB. Thus, there is an urgent need to educate health care professionals at all levels.
(Less)
- author
- Skyman, Eva ; Bergbom, Ingegerd ; Lindahl, Berit LU ; Larsson, Leif ; Lindqvist, Anna ; Sjöström, Harrieth Thunberg and Åhrén, Christina
- publishing date
- 2014-01-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Alerts, Experience, MRSA, Notification card, Patient
- in
- Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
- volume
- 46
- issue
- 6
- pages
- 440 - 446
- publisher
- Informa Healthcare
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:24669980
- scopus:84900854947
- ISSN
- 0036-5548
- DOI
- 10.3109/00365548.2014.896029
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- 0af34429-6f1c-4e82-b141-40be3a1e26ca
- date added to LUP
- 2020-04-14 14:58:19
- date last changed
- 2024-01-02 08:59:49
@article{0af34429-6f1c-4e82-b141-40be3a1e26ca,
abstract = {{<p>Background: The importance of alerting health care systems of patients carrying multidrug-resistant bacteria (MRB) is highlighted in numerous guidelines. In the absence of electronic alert systems, notification cards are often recommended, but have rarely been evaluated. We evaluated patient experiences of receiving and using a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) notification card. Methods: Two cohorts of patients given a card when identified for the first time as a carrier in 1999-2003 and 2008-2010, responded to questionnaires distributed in 2004 and 2011, respectively. The response rate in 2004 was 92 (38 females)/129 and in 2011 was 110 (55 females)/209. In addition, 63% and 49%, respectively, followed the encouragement to provide written comments to the questions. These were analysed using a qualitative method. Results: The patients took responsibility not to infect others, reported high usage, and acknowledged the importance of the card to inform health care institutions about their carrier status, despite experiencing fear, disrespect, lack of knowledge, and unprofessional behaviour when presenting it to personnel. Alarmingly these stigmatizing experiences were more frequent in 2011. Professional behaviour was reported from the infectious disease clinic. A majority of the patients were unaware of how they had acquired MRSA. Conclusions: The MRSA notification card was felt to stigmatize the patient, which makes its use questionable. Other alert methods need to be developed. Most importantly, the study demonstrates the importance for these patients to meet staff educated about MRB. Thus, there is an urgent need to educate health care professionals at all levels.</p>}},
author = {{Skyman, Eva and Bergbom, Ingegerd and Lindahl, Berit and Larsson, Leif and Lindqvist, Anna and Sjöström, Harrieth Thunberg and Åhrén, Christina}},
issn = {{0036-5548}},
keywords = {{Alerts; Experience; MRSA; Notification card; Patient}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{01}},
number = {{6}},
pages = {{440--446}},
publisher = {{Informa Healthcare}},
series = {{Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases}},
title = {{Notification card to alert for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is stigmatizing from the patient's point of view}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/00365548.2014.896029}},
doi = {{10.3109/00365548.2014.896029}},
volume = {{46}},
year = {{2014}},
}