Use of the Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Human Services to Assess Hand Hygiene Compliance in a Hospital

How to Administer the Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Human Services

The Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Human Services (PDC-HS) is a performance analysis tool used to identify barriers to performance in human-service settings. Multiple published studies have used the PDC-HS to determine effective interventions (Wilder et al. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 53(2), 1170-1176, 2020). However, in a recent discussion article proposing guidelines for administering the PDC-HS, Brand et al. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1-7 (2022) noted that procedural descriptions provided for administering the PDC-HS are somewhat ambiguous in the published literature. The purpose of the current systematic review was to compare methods used to administer the PDC-HS. Fifteen articles met inclusion criteria and were coded to evaluate commonalities among PDC-HS components. Authors generally agreed on how the outcomes of the PDC-HS were depicted and discussed but varied in their descriptions of methods used to administer the PDC-HS. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of technological descriptions and directions for future research towards the development of a more standardized tool.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40617-023-00848-3.

Increasing adherence to a standardized rounding procedure in two hospital in-patient units

Standardized bedside rounds can improve communication and the quality of care for patients in hospitals. However, it can be challenging to change previously established provider practices to adhere to new procedures. This study evaluated 2 packaged interventions, derived from a modified Performance Diagnostic Checklist interview, to increase adherence to standardized rounding practices in 2 hospital units. Researchers observed physicians at a university hospital on rounds 2-3 times per week, and 2 phases of intervention were implemented to improve adherence. The interventions included task clarification, feedback, and weekly huddles. Compared to baseline, phases 1 and 2 of the intervention improved clinician adherence to the standardized bedside rounding checklist by 24.94% and 30.94% in unit 1 and 26.76% and 44.06% in unit 2, respectively. The standardized rounds did not require additional time following the intervention. These results indicate that physician adherence can be improved through behavioral interventions.