A Technology Intervention for Nurses Engaged in Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections

Abstract

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections account for 40% of healthcare-acquired infections. This study explored the addition of cloud-based software technology to an established nursing quality improvement program to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Unit-based nurse champions evaluated peers' evidence-based catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention practices using manual, paper-based feedback. That process achieved reduced rates of catheter-associated urinary tract infection over 18 months. However, it was resource intensive. Cloud-based software technology was introduced to replace the paper. Nurse champions' satisfaction, catheter-associated urinary tract infection and indwelling urinary catheter utilization, and prevention practices were compared before and after the technology intervention. Compliance with the provision of a chlorhexidine bath demonstrated improvement (P = .003), while other practice measures did not significantly change. The indwelling urinary catheter utilization ratio was lower (P = .01), yet the intervention yielded no change in catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates. The short time interval of the intervention was potentially a contributing factor in no significant rate change. Nurse champions (N = 14) were more satisfied with the cloud-based technology (P = .004), the clarity of improvement targets (P = .004), and the speed of sharing data (P = .001). Their time to share data decreased from 4 days or more to 1 hour or less. Nurse champions readily adopted the cloud-based technology. These findings suggest additional research on technology innovations for nursing quality improvement is needed.