Implementation and barriers to waterless care: a questionnaire study of infection prevention and control practitioners, clinicians, and engineers

Background

Water and wastewater in healthcare settings are recognized to represent a risk to patients. However, waterless care has not been widely implemented in UK healthcare settings.

Aim

To identify barriers to implementation of waterless care.

Methods

A questionnaire study of infection prevention and control (IPC) practitioners, non-IPC clinicians, and estates managers and engineers was undertaken.

Findings

Alternatives to water present challenges in perceived acceptability to patients, particularly cleansing wipes for bathing and dry shampoo. There are concerns about cleansing wipes in terms of storage, disposal, sustainability and contamination during manufacture. Estates and engineering concerns include relative water tank size for water turnover and clinical disruption due to works.

Conclusion

Further work is required on acceptability of reduced water scenarios and patient views but the results of this questionnaire provide a grounding for sentiment from healthcare workers on waterless care.