Engaging environmental services staff in hospital cleaning research

Introduction The Researching Effective Approaches to Cleaning in Hospitals (REACH) study evaluated the effectiveness of a novel cleaning bundle intervention in 11 major Australian hospitals in 2016-2017. It was essential for effective bundle implementation that there was close collaboration with staff at each hospital who perform hospital cleaning, and the trial activities reflected the local staff context and characteristics. Multiple approaches were used to engage with environmental services staff and to promote ownership of the cleaning bundle at each hospital. Methods Pre-trial questionnaires, that aimed to identify environmental services staffs’ baseline knowledge about cleaning, and their attitudes and perceptions of their role and organisational support were completed by 616 people across the 11 hospitals (35.63% of total staff). The REACH study team facilitated 25 discussion groups (n=223) to identify local issues and contextual factors around hospital cleaning work. Data from these activities were used to tailor the cleaning bundle and plan the hospital-specific staff engagement. Post-trial, the questionnaires were repeated at each hospital (n=307) and questions included about staff experience of participating in the REACH trial. Results Analysis of pre- and post-trial questionnaire results indicated minimal increase in attitudes related to perceptions of organisational support. However, post-trial (n=307), 64% of staff agreed they felt recognised for their participation in the trial (range 33-90%) and 68% agreed they felt supported throughout the trial (range 44-100%). Thematic analysis of post-trial feedback will be presented. Discussion Providing tailored and context-responsive activities in each hospital supported the research trial implementation. In terms of increasing staff engagement with the research, the bundle included activities to support and recognise the importance of environmental services staff within a hospital’s ‘culture of safety’