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.
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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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