Nudging to improve hand hygiene.
J Hosp Infect
; 98(4): 352-358, 2018 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28974467
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Hand hygiene is paramount to prevent healthcare-associated infections, but improving compliance is challenging. When healthcare workers seldom encounter healthcare-associated infections, they will consider the odds of causing infections through poor hand hygiene negligible. Cognitive biases such as these may induce non-compliance. Nudging, 'a friendly push to encourage desired behaviour', could provide an easily implemented, inexpensive measure to address cognitive biases and thus support hand hygiene interventions.AIM:
To investigate whether behavioural nudges, displayed as posters, can increase the use of alcohol-based hand rub.METHODS:
We developed nudges based on a systematic review of previously described cognitive biases, and tested these through a cross-sectional survey among the target audience. We then conducted a controlled before-after trial on two hospital wards, to assess the effect of these nudges on the use of alcohol-based hand rub, measured with electronic dispensers.FINDINGS:
Poisson regression analyses adjusted for workload showed that nudges displayed next to dispensers increased their overall use on one ward [poster 1 relative risk 1.6 (95% confidence interval 1.2-2.2); poster 2 1.7 (1.2-2.5)] and during doctor's rounds on both wards [poster 1 ward A 1.7 (1.1-2.6); ward B 2.2 (1.3-3.8)]. Use of dispensers without adjacent nudges did not increase.CONCLUSION:
Nudges based on cognitive biases that play a role in hand hygiene, and displayed as posters, could provide an easy, inexpensive measure to increase use of alcohol-based hand rub. When applying nudges to change behaviour, it is important to identify the right nudge for the right audience.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Terapia Comportamental
/
Infecção Hospitalar
/
Fidelidade a Diretrizes
/
Higiene das Mãos
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article