Improving workflow, performing direct observation and providing individual feedback increased hand hygiene compliance in an anesthesia department more than fivefold in a year and a half, according to a study in the American Journal of Infection Control.
Researchers studied hand hygiene compliance, defined by alcohol hand disinfection during the "5 moments for hand hygiene" described by the World Health Organization, in a hospital anesthesia department. The three-phase study included three observation phases separated by two interventions from March 2010 to September 2011.
The first intervention consisted of the following:
• Additional hand sanitizer dispensers
• Promotion of disinfectant bottles for gown pockets
• Teaching and audits
• Implementation of standard operating procedures for invasive procedures
The second intervention consisted of the following:
• Audits through direct observation with feedback on an individual basis
• Re-evaluation and improvement of the standard operating procedures
• More efficient distribution of the standard operating procedures
• Multiple presentations of interim results as a training and motivational tool
Hand hygiene compliance increased from 10 percent in the first phase to 30 percent in the second phase and 54 percent in the third phase — a total increase of 540 percent. In addition, workflow improvements decreased the number of hand hygiene opportunities from 24 to 14.
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Researchers studied hand hygiene compliance, defined by alcohol hand disinfection during the "5 moments for hand hygiene" described by the World Health Organization, in a hospital anesthesia department. The three-phase study included three observation phases separated by two interventions from March 2010 to September 2011.
The first intervention consisted of the following:
• Additional hand sanitizer dispensers
• Promotion of disinfectant bottles for gown pockets
• Teaching and audits
• Implementation of standard operating procedures for invasive procedures
The second intervention consisted of the following:
• Audits through direct observation with feedback on an individual basis
• Re-evaluation and improvement of the standard operating procedures
• More efficient distribution of the standard operating procedures
• Multiple presentations of interim results as a training and motivational tool
Hand hygiene compliance increased from 10 percent in the first phase to 30 percent in the second phase and 54 percent in the third phase — a total increase of 540 percent. In addition, workflow improvements decreased the number of hand hygiene opportunities from 24 to 14.
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5 Strategies for Staff Engagement in Hand Hygiene
