Infection-Control Protocol Acceptability in Skilled Nursing Facilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Brianna E Morgan, Diana Hernandez, Keith S Goldfeld and 8 others
PMID 40854513WHAT IT FOUND
Staff and residents in two nursing homes generally accepted color-coded infection-risk pairing, though many residents did not understand the system and worried about segregation.
Clear communication about reassignments was the main implementation need.
Key findings
01Staff and residents generally accepted the color-coded staff-resident pairing, but many residents did not understand how the colors were assigned and some worried it segregated them.
02Communication about the strategy was the most commonly cited staff challenge, and participants said proactive top-down and staff-resident communication could address concerns about care continuity and reassignments.
03Participants perceived that knowing infection risk could reduce fear, guide PPE decisions, and allow more movement between rooms.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Findings come from two New York City nursing homes in a region heavily affected by COVID-19, so they may not apply to other settings. Most staff participants were certified nursing assistants, so registered nurse, administrator, and other role perspectives were limited. The study did not measure how many residents actually experienced changed care, so perceptions may reflect the idea of cohorting more than real impact. Responses were collected during the pandemic, so fear and isolation may reflect general pandemic experience rather than the intervention alone. This is a qualitative acceptability study, not evidence that the intervention reduced infections or improved outcomes.
Declared interests
No author conflicts were declared. The article is tagged as supported by NIH extramural and non-U.S. government research funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that color-coded cohorting reduced infections, deaths, or isolation. It reports staff and resident perceptions of acceptability and possible impact, not measured clinical outcomes.