An emergency preparedness presentation that occurred in Waupaca Wisconsin in January 2009 revealed an unexpected concern among regional residents: infection control at faith-based organizations. This topic caught the attention of the local public health nurse who hosted the presentation. As a result, a volunteer subcommittee was formed to address the concern. The subcommittee was composed of public health and parish nurses, emergency preparedness coordinators, a regional public health consultant, and a university public health nursing professor from northeastern Wisconsin.
The subcommittee chose to create a toolkit that faith-based organizations of all religious backgrounds could use to interrupt the transmission of disease, prepare for public health emergencies and educate their members about these issues. The toolkit materials were gathered from national, international, public health, and faith-related organizations. The materials are organized into five categories: a) fact sheets, b) posters and other resources, c) resources for kids and schools/nurseries, d) faith-based emergency planning, and e) individual and family preparedness.
Between October and December 2009, an IRB approved research pilot study was conducted with 30 faith-based organizations that agreed to participate; five or six from each health department jurisdiction (city or county). Pilot study objectives included:
1. Examining the knowledge and attitudes of faith-based communities toward infection control and emergency preparedness.
2. Assessing the usefulness of and piloting the newly developed Infection Control and Emergency Preparedness Toolkit for Faith Based Communities.
All of the participating organizations received an individualized one-hour presentation from a local public health or parish nurse, emergency preparedness coordinator or public health nursing student on infection control /emergency preparedness and the resources in the toolkit. Participating faith-based organizations received both a hard copy and CD of the toolkit. Participants also completed a survey after the presentation that measured attitudes and knowledge about emergency preparedness and infection control, as well as satisfaction with the toolkit. Janet Reilly, NP and Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin Green Bay, said the presence of H1N1 during the pilot study likely enhanced how well this initiative was received.
Although survey results are still being tallied, anecdotes suggest that faith-based organizations that initially did not feel it was the church's role to institute infection-control policies made or are making changes suggested in the toolkit (such as eliminating the common cup or using hand sanitizer). In addition, many of the organizations reported changing regular practices during the peak of the H1N1 outbreak. One parish replied to its local public health department in March 2010 with this:
"Our Board of Deacons utilized the information to promote hand hygiene for the church members. During the announcement time during a worship service, Pastor and I demonstrated how to perform hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub. Our Board of Deacons then purchased three alcohol hand rub dispensers (and the replacement rub) and placed them at key points of passage such as the entrance to the sanctuary, the entrance into fellowship hall and by the main entrance. In fact since you came, the Board of Deacons has added 'Infection Prevention' to our monthly meeting agenda. I appreciated that public health came to the church and met with us and left written materials as it added credibility to promoting health and preventing infection."
Following the pilot study, changes were made to the toolkit based on the feedback of the participating faith-based organizations. Many of the local health departments have since posted the toolkit on their websites. The collaborative process and survey results have been shared at parish and public health nurse conferences. Reilly said she is pleased with the outcome and feels it was a "fantastic multidisciplinary effort that improved the health and safety of the communities in six public health department jurisdictions of northeastern Wisconsin".
