Australian Infection Control Association members' use of skills and resources that promote evidence-based infection control

Background: To adopt an evidence-based approach. professionals must be able to access, identify, interpret, and critically appraise best evidence. Cri tical appraisal requires essential skills, such as computer literacy and an understanding of research principles. These skills also are required for p rofessionals to contribute to evidence. Methods: In 1996. members of the Australian Infection Control Association w ere surveyed to establish a profile including the extent to which they were reading infection control publications, using specific documents for polic y and guideline development, developing and undertaking research, publishin g research, and using computers. The relationships between demographics, co mputer use, and research activity were examined. Results: The response rate was 63.4% (630/993). The study group comprised m ostly women (96.1%), and most (66.4%) were older than 40 years of age. Medi an infection control experience was 4 years (mean, 5.4 years; range, <12 mo nths to 35 years). When developing guidelines and policies (92.7%. 584/630) , infection control professionals reviewed State Health Department Infectio n Control Guidelines and Regulations. Research relating to infection contro l was undertaken by 21.5% (135/628) of the sample, and 27.6% (37/134) of th is group published their research findings. Of the respondents (51.1%; 318/ 622) who used a computer to undertake infection control tasks, the majority (89.0%) used a personal computer for word processing. Conclusion: Regardless of infection control experience, Australian infectio n control professionals must be adequately prepared to contribute to, acces s, appraise. and where appropriate, apply best evidence to their practice. We suggest that computer literacy, an understanding of research principles, and familiarity with infection control literature are three essential skil ls that infection control professionals must possess and regularly exercise .