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Patient and provider perspectives on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A qualitative assessment of knowledge, beliefs, and behavior

Abstract Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a frequent cause of healthcare-associated infection. Individuals with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) are at high risk of MRSA colonization and infection. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released guidelines to prevent the spread of MRSA in Veterans with SCI/D; however, available patient educational materials did not address the unique issues for this population. Objective To assess perceptions of SCI/D providers and Veterans with SCI/D regarding MRSA and their educational needs about MRSA prevention, with an ultimate goal of developing patient educational materials that address the issues unique to SCI/D. Methods Purposive samples of SCI/D providers (six groups) and Veterans with SCI/D (one group) at two VA facilities participated in 60–90-minute focus group sessions. Qualitative data were analyzed using latent content and constant comparative techniques to identify focal themes. Participants Thirty-three providers (physicians and nurses working in inpatient, outpatient, and homecare settings) and eight Veterans participated. Results Three overarching themes emerged from the analysis: knowledge about MRSA, hand hygiene, and barriers to educating Veterans with SCI/D. Conclusions SCI/D providers and Veterans with SCI/D identified gaps in general MRSA knowledge, gaps in knowledge of good hand hygiene practices and of required frequency of hand hygiene, and barriers to educating Veterans with SCI/D during inpatient stays. Future educational materials and strategies should address these gaps.