Socioeconomic Factors Concerning Hospital-Acquired Infections - Essay Example

Introduction

In recent times, there has been a significant reporting of cases where patients have developed diseases which were not initially present during their initial interaction with the hospital facilities throughout the world. This has set precedence for the quest of this study. Throughout the research, we seek to understand how the sociological factors merge with human health to give rise to hospital-acquired conditions. Different individuals from different socioeconomic groups have different lifestyles and health regimes. This sets a premise for distinct qualification and categorization. As we seek to understand how the two factors relate the study will provide an interesting avenue of thought and analysis.

As patients interact with various departments within the healthcare system, they are exposed to a wide variety of issues. Fundamentally, as they (patients) interact with the hospital environment, they are exposed to a significant amount of health risk. The risk posed is from a wide range of pathogens present and prevalent at the scene. From an array of infectious agents and reagents, hospital equipment, and such paraphernalia. As patients receive treatment in hospitals, they are a significant risk of them contracting viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. Commonly, infections such as pneumonia; surgical site infection, gastroenteritis, and meningitis, occur within the hospital. Hospital-acquired infections, also called nosocomial infections, are a significant risk to the patients as they usually have a compromised immune system. As a consequence of the interaction, patients are bound to contract different types of diseases. Predisposed factors of health and person influence the outcome of a successful healthcare encounter. However, these factors are not commonly considered. As strategies and policies to improve the behaviour encounters are improved, an adequate understanding of the different aspect of human life should also be adequately looked into. Qualitative studies and research aimed at isolation, scrutinizing understanding human health as a product of the manifestation of sociological factors ought to be understood.

Background of the Problem

The capitalistic nature of the healthcare system influences the nature in which individuals from different socioeconomic status interact with hospital infrastructure. As a result of the differences in socioeconomic capabilities, disparities in incidence and prevalence of hospital-acquired infections arise. In this study, we seek to isolate a case of urinary tract infection. Hereby, the infection is as a result of inadequate prevention measures by different hospitals. Consequently, the infections are spread among several patients, due to the nature and type of catheters used in during the patients' visit to the medical facilities. From a study by Saint, et al (2008), it was ascertained that catheters- a factor in the prevalence of urinary tract infection, only less the 10% of hospitals in the US had catheters suited in the prevention of the disease. As patients are subjected in such a system of limited safety equipment, the preference to whom to provide for with safe equipment becomes a subject of capital.

Socioeconomic dispensations have provided a foundation for the establishment of human life under different socio-economic platforms. Hospital-acquired infection is alarmingly increasing in low-income settings infection (Ali et al 2018). Opportunities for education, jobs, economic empowerment, and social network have been predisposed in the current capitalistic society.

Education for instance provides for income, income sustains runs and sustains people daily life. Education also provides knowledge and enlightens. Socioeconomic factors shape the daily lives of individuals. Based on the position of individuals in the socioeconomic spectrum, the modern-day human life is shaped. Factors such as housing, childcare, food, medical care are influenced by income and education level. Therefore, a patient becomes a factor in their socioeconomic position. When the process of acquisition of healthcare resources is initiated, be it consultation, emergency treatment, outpatient or inpatient treatment, the patient interacts with the hospital setup. The varying degree of socioeconomic empower guides the interaction.

Purpose of the Study

The study seeks to examine patients admitted to healthcare facilitates. The researcher importantly shall also interview the health (and related) professional to understand and work within the scope of the problem. Qualitatively, the research will investigate healthcare-acquired infections that occur within two days after admission to the facility. To steer clear of bias and to provide a definite platform for research, the infection must be entirely unrelated to the original condition on admission. To enhance efficiency, focus groups are going to be interviewed too. The technique is going to create a consistent flow of data, improve accuracy, and promote precision.

To understand and qualify the interaction the study is by aiming to;

• Study the relationship and effect of socioeconomic on the health and wellbeing of individuals.
• To investigate infection incidence and prevalence among different socioeconomic groups of individuals
• To describe different socioeconomic factors concerning hospital-acquired infections

Qualitative Methods and Data Collection

A variety of qualitative methods have been developed which aid in understanding healthcare and its correlation with different variables. Based on the socioeconomic factors about the life of an individual, relevant data has to be collected. In this instance, data is collected from interviewing and observation of individual patients and groups of patients. There are different types of research care methodologies. Based on the aim of the research, they include (but not limited to), experiments, surveys, questionnaires, interviews, observational trials, participant and non-participant observation. Custom to the nature of the study, the research will seek a one on one interaction between the researcher and the interviewee. Although the approach might be appropriated in groups, the objective of the research will be undertaken by adequately preparing the participants in understanding the tasks at hand. This information is going to be synthesized by the researcher (trained moderator) too to be familiar with the depth and perception by the interviewee. To personalize, understand, interpret, and analyse the information, the researcher must position themselves as the personal instrument synthesizing the data.

As scientists and medics are tasked with the role of countering human-related health issues, there is a need to explore the world of knowledge. Research seeking to understand the source and adequate infrastructural resources to protect and prevent humans from contracting diseases is critical for human survival. Studies (including this one) need to be conducted to aid in the development of resilience and equip the relevant stakeholders with the rightful information for the good of the human race.

In-Depth Interviews. For the benefit of knowledge, the research plan is going to explore the personal method of gathering data. To explore in in-depth the experiences by the interviewee, we seek to understand and perceive the events that lead to the incidence of the hospital-acquired infection. The method involved is standard and flexible and with the help of tools of analysis, the interaction from the interview is going to guarantee and outcome in tandem with the research question (Hardy & Bryman, 2004). However, in detail, the study is going to attempt and understand different sociological factors and how they come into play. This forms the hypothetical basis for the study. Are socioeconomic factors relevant to the rise of hospital-acquired infections?

Based on the different social-economic categories, different sets of individuals are to be assigned different focus groups based on the socioeconomic prowess. The criteria for differentiation will be based on age, level of education, and areas of residence. These variables are important as they inform different lifestyles. In a focus group of a similar age set, the socioeconomic capacity of the individuals involved inform their health. Different daily activities will set a precedence for the development of the research question. Informed by the nature of their socioeconomic capability, the focus groups will articulate different health concern seeking to identify a relationship between variables and goals.

Nominal group technique. Concerning the research question, the nominal group technique will also be an important technique for gathering research data. As groups are open forum and individuals present are given opportunities to air their view, vocal members are likely to skew the ideas or judgement of other group members ( Hardy & Bryman, 2004). To avoid this the researcher must incorporate means to allow for critical analysis. Questions are to be posed by the moderator, and the responses must also be guided to simulate a clear and well-thought scenario. Employment of these tools and methods of research should adequately provide a scientific basis for analysis and critique.