Nudging - A hygien safe direction in the elderly care
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Beteendelabbet AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 496 800 |
| Project duration | September 2020 - April 2021 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Innovations to mitigate the crisis |
| Call | Finding new ways in the time of a crisis |
Important results from the project
The project aimed to develop and test cost-effective nudges that will simplify hygiene-safe behaviors for a reduced spread of infection in nursing homes. Through the process of the behavioral journey, both obstacles and opportunities to motivate staff for desirable behavior in the right decision situation were identified. These produced nudges were received positively by the staff and led to an increased use of protective materials. The goal is considered achieved, there is a tested Nudge kit that with the help of a manual can easily be scaled up and spread to several nursing homes.
Expected long term effects
We Expected that increased compliance should increase the consumption of materials, which we see between the control and test period where increase per day and resident for hand sanitizers (1.8 cl or 96%), aprons (3.3 or 125%), gloves (13.6 or 365%). Masks were not replenished during the control period and therefore no percentage increase can be stated. Consumption was also higher compared to the control group for hand sanitizers (3.1 cl or 378%), aprons (3.5 or 135%), Masks (2.4 or 313%). For gloves the consumption was higher on the control group (3.6 or 17.2%).
Approach and implementation
Using the process called Beteenderesan during the project, we gained a deeper understanding of what prevents staff from following hygiene routines, this user centered method led to initiatives based on the needs and behaviors of the staff. Efforts were evaluated by measuring behavioral change in the form of the consumption of protective material in a controlled field experiment in a nursing home. By inventorying the consumption of protective materials, before and after implementation in two different departments, we were able to measure change between time periods and departments.