Influence of three different handling factors in health care workers’hand hygiene compliance rate

Abstract:

ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of different handling factors in the hand hygiene compliance rate of health care workers’(HCWs). MethodsEight clinical departments in JulyDecember 2012 were selected for study, the baseline data of hand hygiene in July were investigated. In AugustOctober, 6 departments were provided free hand disinfectant, only 2 departments took comprehensive intervention measures; in NovemberDecember, all selected  hospitals took intervention measures, but without being provided free hand disinfectant. Hand hygiene compliance rates among HCWs were compared. ResultsThe overall hand compliance rate of HCWs in JulyDecember 2012 was 59.50%，hand compliance rate of  different months were significantly different (P<0.01), compliance rate was lowest in July（36.73%），after providing free hand disinfectant plus performing comprehensive intervention, hand compliance rates of different months increased obviously （57.20%-72.08%）;When disinfectant was not provided free, compliance rate in each month still maintained a high level（65.20%-65.50%）; compliance rates in AugustOctober were all  higher than July （［45.41%-73.63%］vs ［18.97%-47.17%］）(all P≤0.05）;except north section of intensive care unit （ICU）, compliance rates in NovemberDecember （61.67%-72.73%）were both higher than July (both P<0.05).Healthcareassociated infection rate decreased from 3.39% in July to 1.75% in NovemberDecember （χ2=5.122，P=0.024）.ConclusionProviding free hand disinfectant can promote  HCWs’ hand hygiene compliance, repeated stressing hand hygiene awareness is the key measure to improve hand hygiene compliance.

Key words:

hand hygiene; handwashing; compliance; health care worker; healthcareassociated infection; infection control