Background: Decontamination of reusable medical instruments (RMDs) is today’s top eight patient safety concern (ECRI, 2018). Many healthcare organizations continue to be non-compliant on decontamination of RMD standards.
Purpose and Aims: The purpose of this study is to explore the issue consistent to the improper and inadequate decontamination of reusable medical devices. There are two aims of this study: 1) explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice of sterile processing technicians (SPT) and end-users, OR RNs and STs, on the decontaminating reusable medical devices and 2) if present, identify the barriers or facilitators in decontaminating reusable medical devices as perceived by SPTs and end-users.
Methods: The study design is a descriptive qualitative study using Charmaz (2014) grounded theory method. Sample size is SPTs (n=13) and end-users (n=13). Participants were recruited locally and via the internet. Theoretical and purposive sampling were done. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and qualitative Reflection Note were completed by participants
Results: Three facilitators were found to influence the domains: knowledge, attitude, and practice: (a) availability of resources, (b) role awareness towards patient care, and (c) team cohesiveness.
Implications: OR RNs to improve their knowledge so that they can become better liaisons and facilitators to a better relationship between Operating Room staff and Sterile Processing staff. Healthcare leaders to improve workplace environment for SPTs and end-users to increase team cohesiveness. To promote more research on this topic as research is scarce on this topic.
","abstract_html":"<p><strong>Background:</strong> Decontamination of reusable medical instruments (RMDs) is today’s top eight patient safety concern (ECRI, 2018). Many healthcare organizations continue to be non-compliant on decontamination of RMD standards.</p> <p><strong>Purpose and Aims:</strong> The purpose of this study is to explore the issue consistent to the improper and inadequate decontamination of reusable medical devices. There are two aims of this study: 1) explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice of sterile processing technicians (SPT) and end-users, OR RNs and STs, on the decontaminating reusable medical devices and 2) if present, identify the barriers or facilitators in decontaminating reusable medical devices as perceived by SPTs and end-users.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> The study design is a descriptive qualitative study using Charmaz (2014) grounded theory method. Sample size is SPTs (n=13) and end-users (n=13). Participants were recruited locally and via the internet. Theoretical and purposive sampling were done. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and qualitative Reflection Note were completed by participants</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> Three facilitators were found to influence the domains: knowledge, attitude, and practice: (a) availability of resources, (b) role awareness towards patient care, and (c) team cohesiveness.</p> <p>Implications: OR RNs to improve their knowledge so that they can become better liaisons and facilitators to a better relationship between Operating Room staff and Sterile Processing staff. Healthcare leaders to improve workplace environment for SPTs and end-users to increase team cohesiveness. To promote more research on this topic as research is scarce on this topic.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Aglugub, Rocelle"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"PhD Nursing","degree_level":"Dissertation: USD Users Only","degree_discipline":"Nursing","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2021,"date_issued":"2021-07-26T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2021-07-26T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:41:42Z","subjects":["sterile processing; reusable medical devices","surgical instruments","surgical instrumentations","knowledge","attitude","practice","Other Nursing","Perioperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/733","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Aglugub, Rocelle"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2023-08-09T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Nursing"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation: USD Users Only"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["PhD Nursing"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["sterile processing; reusable medical devices","surgical instruments","surgical instrumentations","knowledge","attitude","practice","Other Nursing","Perioperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/733"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Background: Decontamination of reusable medical instruments (RMDs) is today’s top eight patient safety concern (ECRI, 2018). Many healthcare organizations continue to be non-compliant on decontamination of RMD standards.
Purpose and Aims: The purpose of this study is to explore the issue consistent to the improper and inadequate decontamination of reusable medical devices. There are two aims of this study: 1) explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice of sterile processing technicians (SPT) and end-users, OR RNs and STs, on the decontaminating reusable medical devices and 2) if present, identify the barriers or facilitators in decontaminating reusable medical devices as perceived by SPTs and end-users.
Methods: The study design is a descriptive qualitative study using Charmaz (2014) grounded theory method. Sample size is SPTs (n=13) and end-users (n=13). Participants were recruited locally and via the internet. Theoretical and purposive sampling were done. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and qualitative Reflection Note were completed by participants
Results: Three facilitators were found to influence the domains: knowledge, attitude, and practice: (a) availability of resources, (b) role awareness towards patient care, and (c) team cohesiveness.
Implications: OR RNs to improve their knowledge so that they can become better liaisons and facilitators to a better relationship between Operating Room staff and Sterile Processing staff. Healthcare leaders to improve workplace environment for SPTs and end-users to increase team cohesiveness. To promote more research on this topic as research is scarce on this topic.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Exploring the Decontamination Process for Reusable Medical Devices (RMDs)"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Aglugub, Rocelle"],"dc:date.available":["2023-08-09T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Background: Decontamination of reusable medical instruments (RMDs) is today’s top eight patient safety concern (ECRI, 2018). Many healthcare organizations continue to be non-compliant on decontamination of RMD standards.
Purpose and Aims: The purpose of this study is to explore the issue consistent to the improper and inadequate decontamination of reusable medical devices. There are two aims of this study: 1) explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice of sterile processing technicians (SPT) and end-users, OR RNs and STs, on the decontaminating reusable medical devices and 2) if present, identify the barriers or facilitators in decontaminating reusable medical devices as perceived by SPTs and end-users.
Methods: The study design is a descriptive qualitative study using Charmaz (2014) grounded theory method. Sample size is SPTs (n=13) and end-users (n=13). Participants were recruited locally and via the internet. Theoretical and purposive sampling were done. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and qualitative Reflection Note were completed by participants
Results: Three facilitators were found to influence the domains: knowledge, attitude, and practice: (a) availability of resources, (b) role awareness towards patient care, and (c) team cohesiveness.
Implications: OR RNs to improve their knowledge so that they can become better liaisons and facilitators to a better relationship between Operating Room staff and Sterile Processing staff. Healthcare leaders to improve workplace environment for SPTs and end-users to increase team cohesiveness. To promote more research on this topic as research is scarce on this topic.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/733"],"dc:subject":["sterile processing; reusable medical devices","surgical instruments","surgical instrumentations","knowledge","attitude","practice","Other Nursing","Perioperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing"],"dc:title":["Exploring the Decontamination Process for Reusable Medical Devices (RMDs)"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Nursing"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation: USD Users Only"],"thesis:degree_name":["PhD Nursing"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:41:42Z"}