Main Menu Browse by Day or Program Author Keywords

652 Charting the course for the future of science in healthcare epidemiology

Saturday, March 20, 2010
Grand Hall (Hyatt Regency Atlanta)
David Henderson, MD , National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Tara Palmore, MD , National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD
Marc Bonten, MD , University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
Neil Fishman , University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Steven Gordon, MD , Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
Stephan Harbarth, MD , Geneva University Hospitals, CH-1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland
Anthony Harris D., MD , Univ of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Ebbing Lautenbach, MD, MPH, MSCE , University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Eli Perencevich, MD , University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine and the Iowa City VA Medical Center, Iowa City, IA
Trish Perl, MD, MSc , The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Richard Platt, MD , HMS/HPHC, Boston, MA
Saintjay Saint, MD, MPH , University of Michigan and Ann Arbor VA Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI
Matthew Samore, MD , IDEAS Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Robert Sherertz, MD , Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
David Weber, MD , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Robert Weinstein, MD , Rush University Medical Center and John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL
Background: We surveyed the membership of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) to gain insight into members' views on healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and to identify obstacles to designing effective interventions. Objective: Survey goals were: 1) to identify gaps in the existing knowledge base and to determine membership research goal priorities; 2) to assess whether members would be willing to participate in a research consortium (either without or with additional funding); and 3) to determine need for training for the next generation of investigators as well as SHEA's view of its role in such training. Methods: The survey was designed by the SHEA Research Committee and was distributed electronically in September 2008. Three electronic reminders were distributed, and a printed copy was mailed at the time of dues renewal. Responses received before February 15, 2009 were included. Issues for consideration by the Research Committee were ranked on a 5-point Likert Scale. Answers 'Important' and 'Very Important' indicated positive responses. Results: The survey response rate was 46%. 61% of respondents were older than 50; 62% had more than 12 years' experience; 80% had doctoral degrees and 72% were from academic or teaching institutions. Issues identified as scientifically important were: setting the scientific agenda for healthcare epidemiology (93%); developing collaborative infrastructure to conduct research (92%); developing funding mechanisms for research (90%); and creating a SHEA Research Consortium (85%). Respondents identified the five most important issues facing healthcare epidemiology as follows: 1) multiply drug resistant Gram-negative rods; 2) antimicrobial stewardship; 3) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; 4) effective hand hygiene; and 5) Clostridium difficile. Major barriers to the conduct of clinical research in healthcare epidemiology included: 1) inadequate funding for research projects; 2) lack of protected time for research; 3) inadequate number of personnel; 4) inability to obtain grants and contracts; and 5) burdensome human subjects protection process. More than 40% were willing to participate in a research consortium, even if additional funding were not available. Conclusions: These results provide SHEA with a clear roadmap for Society science efforts. SHEA is working collaboratively to establish the infrastructure for a research consortium and study questions have been identified. Attention focused on HAI represents a call to action for the healthcare epidemiology community.