Effect of education on hand hygiene beliefs and practices: a 5-year program

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2007 Jan;28(1):88-91. doi: 10.1086/510792. Epub 2006 Dec 15.

Abstract

To evaluate infection control and hand hygiene understanding at 3 public hospitals, we surveyed 4,345 healthcare workers (HCWs) 3 times during a 5-year infection control intervention. The preference for the use of alcohol hand rub for hand hygiene increased dramatically; in nurses, it increased from 14% to 34%; in physicians, 4.3% to 51%; and in allied HCWs, 12% to 44%. Study year, infection control interactive education-session attendance, infection control knowledge, and being a physician or allied HCW independently predicted a preference for alcohol hand rub.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alcohols / administration & dosage
  • Allied Health Personnel
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local / administration & dosage
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control
  • Hand Disinfection / methods*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Hospitals, Public
  • Humans
  • Hygiene
  • Infection Control / methods
  • Inservice Training / methods*
  • Nurses
  • Personnel, Hospital*
  • Physicians
  • Program Evaluation*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Alcohols
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local