Park, JYPardosi, JFIslam, MSRespati, TNurhayati, EChowdhury, KCharania, NASeale, H2024-06-272024-06-272023-06-30American Journal of Infection Control, ISSN: 0161-6005 (Print); 1527-3296 (Online), Elsevier, 52(2), 200-206. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2023.06.0190161-60051527-3296http://hdl.handle.net/10292/17723BACKGROUND: Hand hygiene reminders for healthcare workers (HCWs) are commonly used to empower patients. However, this approach overlooks the role of family carers in delivering direct contact care in Asian countries. Limited knowledge exists regarding empowerment strategies for patients and their family carers in infection prevention and control (IPC) recommendations. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive exploration of IPC empowerment within the context of family involvement in care provision across Bangladesh, Indonesia, and South Korea METHOD: In-depth interviews were conducted in five tertiary-level hospitals in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and South Korea. A total of 64 participants through 57 group interviews were interviewed, comprising two groups: 1) patients and family/private carers; and 2) HCWs. RESULT: The study identified barriers to engaging patients and family carers in IPC measures. These included concerns about the patient-HCW hierarchical relationship, lack of knowledge about healthcare-associated infection, IPC, and patient zone, perceptions of IPC as a barrier to family connections, and disempowerment of patients in IPC due to family bonds. CONCLUSION: This study provides diverse perspectives on IPC empowerment, revealing challenges faced by patients, family carers, and HCWs. The interlaced relationship established by social norms of family carer provision hinders the empowerment of family carers. Acknowledging the cultural influence on healthcare arrangements and its implication for IPC empowerment is crucial in mitigating these barriers.© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Family caregiverHand HygieneHealthcare-associated infectionInfectionInformal caregiverPatient empowermentprevention and controlFamily caregiverHand hygieneHealthcare–associated infectionInfection controlInformal caregiverPatient empowerment4203 Health Services and Systems4205 Nursing42 Health SciencesClinical ResearchInfectious Diseases7.1 Individual care needs7 Management of diseases and conditions3 Good Health and Well Being1110 Nursing1117 Public Health and Health ServicesEpidemiology3202 Clinical sciences4202 Epidemiology4206 Public healthHumansCaregiversBangladeshIndonesiaInfection ControlPersonnel, HospitalFamilyRepublic of KoreaHumansFamilyInfection ControlCaregiversPersonnel, HospitalIndonesiaBangladeshRepublic of KoreaHumansCaregiversBangladeshIndonesiaInfection ControlPersonnel, HospitalFamilyRepublic of KoreaJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1016/j.ajic.2023.06.019