RESIST-Q

Refined Edinburgh Surgical Infection Surveillance & Tracking Questionnaire

What is RESIST-Q? RESIST-Q, the Refined Edinburgh Surgical Infection Surveillance & Tracking Questionnaire, is a tool designed to enhance the monitoring and management of surgical site infections (SSIs) in veterinary practices. The survey has been routinely used for over three years at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Developed to overcome the limitations of traditional passive surveillance, RESIST-Q integrates active surveillance methods to provide a more accurate and proactive approach to SSI detection and prevention.

Purpose and Importance The primary goal of RESIST-Q is to improve patient care by identifying SSIs more effectively. By employing a caregiver-based questionnaire, RESIST-Q offers a streamlined, efficient method for detecting surgical site infections that might otherwise go unreported. 


Enhanced Infection Control and Prevention RESIST-Q’s active surveillance approach ensures more accurate detection of SSIs, leading to timely interventions and improved infection control. By continuously monitoring SSI rates, RESIST-Q can help to promptly identify and address potential issues in the patient care pathway.

Fostering Transparency and Trust RESIST-Q can provide accurate data on infection rates, promoting transparency and trust between clinicians and caregiver.

Data Benchmarking RESIST-Q has the potential to enable the benchmarking of SSI rates across different hospitals, surgeons, procedures, and time periods. This data-driven approach allows for internal and external comparisons, highlighting areas for improvement and setting standards for infection control practices.

Improved Tracking and Outbreak Response With RESIST-Q, the tracking of infections is streamlined, and responses to outbreaks are accelerated. 


Implementation Overview RESIST-Q is implemented through a combination of digital and manual processes. The questionnaire is distributed to caregivers via an online survey platform (e.g. Jisc), and integrated into the hospital's Practice Management System (PMS). Automated reminders are sent via the PMS to clients at 30 or 90 days post-surgery. 

Workflow Integration The system is designed to integrate seamlessly into the clinical workflow. Staff spend minimal time managing RESIST-Q, thanks to its user-friendly design and automation. The integration with PMS allows for efficient tracking of patients and response collection, minimising administrative burden. 

User-Friendly Design RESIST-Q’s design ensures ease of use for both clients and staff. The questionnaire is accessible via desktop and mobile devices, and data is processed using simple tools like Excel. The system can be managed by a small team, with minimal training required, thanks to its intuitive interface. 


Study Findings Over three years at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary studies, RESIST-Q demonstrated a consistent response rate of 41%. The system proved effective in identifying infections and addressing infection control issues. Notably, the proactive use of RESIST-Q data led to a significant reduction in SSI rates following targeted interventions. 

Staff and Client Feedback Feedback from staff highlighted RESIST-Q’s impact on improving infection control practices and patient follow-up. Staff appreciated the system’s efficiency and its role in enhancing client trust. 


Inquiries For more information about RESIST-Q, please contact Professor Kelly Blacklock at Kelly.Blacklock@ed.ac.uk. We are happy to provide additional details and answer any questions you may have.

Collaboration We welcome collaborations and partnerships with other veterinary practices interested in adopting RESIST-Q. To discuss potential collaborations, please reach out to Kelly.Blacklock@ed.ac.uk.

Implementation Support If you are considering implementing RESIST-Q in your practice, we would be happy to offer support to help you get started. Contact us at Kelly.Blacklock@ed.ac.uk for guidance and assistance.


What is RESIST-Q?

RESIST-Q is a questionnaire-based system designed for active surveillance of surgical site infections (SSIs) in veterinary practices.

How does RESIST-Q improve infection control?

By providing data on SSI rates and integrating with hospital infection control protocols, RESIST-Q enhances monitoring and enables timely interventions.

How long does it take to complete the RESIST-Q questionnaire?The questionnaire is designed to be quick and easy to fill out. It should take just a few minutes of caregiver time.

How long does it take to manage my RESIST-Q database?

Once the spreadsheet is set up, management takes approximately 30-60 minutes per month to analyse. 

How can I implement RESIST-Q in my practice?

Contact Kelly.Blacklock@ed.ac.uk for detailed implementation guides and support.

What are the ethical considerations in implementing RESIST-Q?

Ensure that your study complies with all relevant ethical guidelines and that all necessary approvals are obtained before collecting data. If you need ethical approval, you should contact the RCVS Ethics Review Panel. Ensure that all client data collected through the RESIST-Q questionnaire is handled in compliance with GDPR regulations. This includes securing personal data, limiting access to authorised personnel only, and ensuring that data is stored and processed securely. Always provide clear information to clients about how their data will be used and obtain their informed consent before collecting any data.


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