Development of an educational resource for nursing staff and unlicensed personnel on the identification and prevention of urinary tract infections within residents living in long term care

Abstract

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur within the genitourinary system and lead to serious infections resulting in hospitalization and death. Older adults are at a higher risk of developing UTIs due to decreased immunity, this may further be exacerbated by increased rates of bladder and bowel incontinence. UTIs are among the most frequently diagnosed infections in older adults and may be preventable or less severe if detected early and modifiable risk factors are addressed. Purpose: To develop an educational resource focused on the identification and prevention of UTIs for Long Term Home (LTCH) staff working with older adults and their family members. Methods included: 1) an integrative literature review 2) an environmental scan of resources related to UTIs available online within Canada and internationally 3) consultation interviews with key stakeholders and 4) the development of the educational resource. Results: Findings highlighted the need for an educational resource to support LTCH staff and families in being able to identify and prevent UTIs in older adults. The literature revealed that LTCH staff may experience knowledge deficits in identifying clinical signs and symptoms of UTI, and preventative measures. The findings from the methods informed the educational resource consisting of two infographics for LTCH staff. These infographics covered UTI risk factors for older adults, prevention interventions, special nursing considerations, the clinical signs and symptoms of infection, and diagnostic testing requirements. Conclusion: The development of the educational resource is to support LTCH staff to provide evidence-informed care to prevent and identify UTI’s within older adults living in LTCH.