Implementing a patient education intervention about Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus prevention and effect on knowledge and behavior in veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders: A pilot randomized controlled trial

• Published in: The journal of spinal cord medicine 2014-03, Vol.37 (2), p.152-161
• Main Authors: Evans, Charlesnika T., Hill, Jennifer N., Guihan, Marylou, Chin, Amy, Goldstein, Barry, Richardson, Michael S. A., Anderson, Vicki, Risa, Kathleen, Kellie, Susan, Cameron, Kenzie A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Humans; Male; Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - pathogenicity; Middle Aged; Patient education; Patient Education as Topic; Pilot Projects; Spinal Cord Injuries - complications; Spinal cord injury; Staphylococcal Infections - prevention & control; Veterans - education
• ISSN: 1079-0268; 2045-7723
• DOI: 10.1179/2045772313Y.0000000153

Objectives To assess the feasibility and effect of a nurse-administered patient educational intervention about Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevention on knowledge and behavior of Veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). Design Blinded, block-randomized controlled pilot trial. Setting Two Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) SCI Centers. Participants Veterans were recruited March-September 2010 through referral by a healthcare provider from inpatient, outpatient, and residential care settings. Intervention Thirty participants were randomized to the nurse-administered intervention and 31 to the usual care group. The intervention included a brochure and tools to assist nurses in conducting the education. Outcome measures Pre- and post-intervention measurement of knowledge and behaviors related to MRSA and prevention strategies and feasibility measures related to implementation. Results Participants were primarily male (95.1%), white (63.9%), with tetraplegia (63.9%) and mean age and duration of injury of 64.3 and 20.5 years, respectively. The intervention groups mean knowledge score significantly increased between pre- and post-test (mean change score = 1.70, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.25-3.15) while the usual care groups score did not significantly change (mean change score = 1.45, 95% CI −0.08-2.98). However, the mean knowledge change between intervention and usual care groups was not significantly different (P = 0.81). Overall behavior scores did not significantly differ between treatment groups; however, the intervention group was more likely to report intentions to clean hands (90.0% vs. 64.5%, P = 0.03) and asking providers about MRSA status (46.7% vs. 16.1%, P = 0.01). Nurse educators reported that the quality of the intervention was high and could be implemented in clinical care. Conclusions A targeted educational strategy is feasible to implement in SCI/D clinical practices and may improve some participants' knowledge about MRSA and increase intentions to improve hand hygiene and engagement with providers about their MRSA status.