Impact of Behavioral Economics on Enhancing Health Professionals’ Adherence to Infection Control Standards

Abstract

In recent years, the manipulation of microeconomic and behavioral theories has been considered as a way to improve the effectiveness of healthcare in reducing infection rates. Since it is especially suited for health consumers and professionals, this adjustment has the potential to enhance the way health professionals adhere to infection prevention control standards. Aligned with the publicly articulated "dual standards of care" and "no blame culture" of the health services, the observational and review literature suggests that the safety of patients is highest when health professionals adhere to standard practice as a means of safeguarding patients from unnecessary risk. The potential of using behavioral economics and microeconomic theories grew from evidence of the wide disparity between compliance rates with infection prevention and control practices and IPC failure rates, which are often excessive in healthcare, and is also effective in models of public health interventions.