Nurses' views on infection control in long-term care facilities in South Korea: A focus group study

Abstract

Purpose: Nurses' infection prevention and control responsibilities have been emphasized owing to the increasing infection rate in long-term care facilities in South Korea. The aim of this study was to explore nurses' perspectives on challenging situations and the areas of improvement related to their role in infection management. Methods: An exploratory descriptive qualitative study was conducted with a purposive sample of 15 nursing staff from five long-term care facilities. A focus group interview with semi-structured questions was conducted between January and May 2017. The study participants' discussions were analyzed using conventional content analysis with line-by-line coding. Results: The participants discussed the breadth of challenges interfering with their ability to provide optimal infection care, from practical human resource management issues to organizational and environmental barriers, and laid a foundation based on which lacking areas can be improved. The analysis produced key themes centered on healthcare personnel-related professionalism, professional role boundaries, daily workflow and management, interdisciplinary collaboration, standards and protocols, and technological infrastructure. Conclusion: Although participants expressed negative feelings toward the constraints in long-term care facilities, they demonstrated the willingness to create a positive change and offered suggestions for improvement and support to improve resident safety and care management. Therefore, special attention should be paid to nurses' perspectives on their work and roles regarding infection control practices and supporting them with available sources. © 2018 Korean Society of Adult Nursing.