A recent market research project has seen the team at Accelerate Associates researching the healthcare flooring market. The aim of the research was to better understand items that are regularly wheeled throughout hospitals and any potential for the spread of infection and dirt tracking that this might cause.
One of the team here at Accelerate has previously worked as a product manager for a manufacturer of contract interior flooring and matting and so we had a keen interest in what the research might highlight.
The main respondents in the primary research phase of the healthcare flooring market research project were Infection Prevention and Control personnel; working for a range of NHS Trusts throughout the UK. Most infection control employees are nurses who have then gone on to specialise in infection control – a key issue for all healthcare facilities in an age of increasing antibiotic resistance.
The research highlighted some interesting facts about the spread of infections and how this is to be prevented. With regards to flooring within hospitals, while the respondents where very keen to stress that it should be disinfected and cleaned regularly; it is not viewed as a significant risk with regards to the spread of infection.
For the most part it was felt that although shoes and wheels can walk and track dirt through a hospital, if the floors are cleaned and disinfected thoroughly and regularly then the risk of infection is minimal. The rationale for this is that, for bacteria and viruses to spread, people have to touch the infected area and then put their hands in their mouths. As floors are not a common ‘touch point’ there is little risk of any microbes infecting patients and visitors; especially in buildings with strict cleaning regimes.
This is a typical example of a bespoke healthcare market research report from Accelerate. As a specialist consultancy, we focus on gathering primary market data from credible respondents to deliver intelligence reports to aid critical business decision making.
In the case of this project, the client was able to quickly identify product-segment opportunities within their capability.
Katherine Bourne qualified with a BSc (Hons) from Nottingham University specialising in Nutritional Biochemistry. CIM qualified with more than ten years commercial marketing experience, Katherine has worked in a number of areas including the food, pharmaceutical, laboratory and science sectors.
