Abstract

Background and Aims: The engagement of professional healthcare workers in maintaining a patient's bodily integrity, their perceptions of the origin of bodily integrity and their roles in maintaining it are key determinants of successful bodily integrity care. Equally important factors include staffing levels, team dynamics, and the workplace environment. This study aimed to assess the bodily integrity care of inpatients (including ocular and oral hygiene) before and after providing medical ward staff training regarding manual handling, pressure ulcers, ocular and oral hygiene, and their management.

Materials and Methods: This observational quality improvement and audit project, which could not close the audit loop, included pre- and post-intervention observational data collection phases, and an intervention phase between the data collection phases. This study enrolled randomly selected inpatients from the medical wards at Limassol General Hospital in the United Republic of Cyprus who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Results: The focus and care for the bodily integrity of inpatients at Limassol General Hospital were below acceptable standards and needed improvement.

Conclusion: Based on the findings, we recommend closing the quality improvement audit loop by engaging key healthcare stakeholders and leaders within the department to engage staff in mandatory annual training regarding manual handling techniques, identification, prevention, and treatment of pressure ulcers, and identification, prevention, and treatment of ocular and oral hygiene-related issues. This could be underpinned by using team structuring models and clinical governance theories to help introduce internal auditing processes and bolster staff attitudes. Additionally, continuous cycles of internal auditing and monitoring are recommended.

doi.org/10.63721/25JCTC0102

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