Hand hygiene knowledge and demonstrated technique among Malawian kindergarten children: A quasi-experimental study.

AIM: To evaluate hand hygiene knowledge and demonstrated technique before and after implementation of the hand hygiene programme and its sustainability among Malawian kindergarten students. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental design, utilizing a repeated measure at three points, namely, before intervention (T0 ), soon after intervention (T1 ) and follow-up (T2 ). METHODS: The hand hygiene programme consisted of integrating hand hygiene protocol into the school health curriculum, setting up proper handwashing facilities, training school teachers, health talks and developing reminders on hand hygiene. Fifty-three kindergarten children aged 3-6 years were enrolled in the programme. Data were collected at 3 months' intervals (T0 , T1 , and T2 ). Parents, teachers, school authorities and children were involved in the implementation and evaluation of the intervention, utilizing a multilevel approach. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in knowledge scores across three time points (T0 , T1 and T2 ), Chi-Square (2, n = 53) = 79.02, p < 0.005 and handwashing technique across the three time points, Chi-Square (2, n = 53) = 88.04, p < 0.005. There was a large effect size of 0.62 on the effect of handwashing technique scores from T0 to T1.

Surgical handwashing practices of operating room staff: An observational study.

OBJECTIVE: This descriptive and cross-sectional study aims to assess the surgical handwashing practices of operating room staff. DESIGN: Single-blind study. METHODS: The study was conducted with 66 staff (surgeons and operating room nurses) employed in the surgery department of a university hospital in Turkey. Data were collected using a Staff Information Form prepared in light of the literature to collect the participants' sociodemographic data and the Surgical Hand Washing Procedure Checklist developed according to the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). The staff assigned to operating rooms were identified, and then, their surgical handwashing practices were observed by one of the researchers. FINDINGS: Of the participants, 77.3% were dressed suitable to the operating room field, 56.1% appropriately wet both of their hands and forearms, and 72.7% used a sufficient amount of antiseptic solution (3-5 ml) in their palms. More than half of them (51.5%) inappropriately performed the procedure of surgical handwashing (applying an antiseptic solution to hands and arms with circular motions, starting from the fingertips up to 3-5 cm above their elbows for a minute), and 47% incorrectly performed the procedure of rinsing hands and arms while keeping the hands above the elbows under running water and passing arms through the water in one direction during this process. CONCLUSION: In the study, it was determined that none of the team members completed the preparation, application and drying steps of the surgical handwashing procedure. Therefore, it is necessary to make arrangements that will facilitate the handwashing procedures of the personnel. Personnel-related problems, such as the duration of washing and drying methods, are possible to be avoided with periodic in-service training and with posters demonstrating the washing stages, which might lead to behavioural changes.

Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre la adherencia al lavado de manos en personal de salud / Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to the adherence of handwashing in health personnel

Introducción: El lavado de manos deficiente, sigue siendo un problema hospitalario. Cumplir con las recomendaciones internacionales ofrece seguridad en el cuidado. Objetivo: Identificar el nivel de conocimiento, actitudes y prácticas en la técnica del lavado de manos en personal de salud en un hospital pediátrico de La Habana. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo a 145 trabajadores (31,7 por ciento médicos, 35,2 por ciento enfermeros, 22,8 por ciento médicos residentes y 10,3 por ciento estudiantes). De 13 servicios el cuerpo de guardia, sala de respiratorio, cirugía, neurocirugía y quemados, fueron los que más participación tuvieron. El estudio se realizó en tres etapas: 1. Observación directa de la técnica del lavado de manos. 2. Observación de la calidad del lavado de manos mediante lámpara fluorescente. 3. Medida del conocimiento acerca del lavado de manos y actitud mediante encuesta. Resultados: En la primera etapa, el 51,7 por ciento calificó de inadecuado, en la segunda etapa el 64,8 por ciento también tuvo una evaluación inadecuada y en las encuestas, el conocimiento alcanzó solo 52,4 por ciento, considerado inapropiado. La actitud ante esta actividad fue calificada de inadecuado en el 53,1 por ciento, con un mejor porcentaje en el personal de enfermería. Conclusiones: Los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre el lavado de manos es deficiente, por lo que debe diseñarse un programa de capacitación en todos los niveles, sea pregrado, posgrado o formación continua, donde exista responsabilidad individual de cada profesional sanitario, y se insista en ello(AU)

Introduction: Deficient handwashing is still a problem in hospitals. The compliance of the international recommendations on this matter provides security in the care. Objective: To identify the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices in the technique of handwashing in a pediatric hospital in Havana. Methodology: Descriptive study applied to 145 workers (31.7 percent doctors, 35.2 percent nurses, 22.8 percent residents, and 10.3 percent students) of 13 services. Emergencies, Respiratory, Surgery, Neurosurgery and Caumatology were the services with more participation. The study was conducted in three stages: 1. Direct observation of the technique of handwashing. 2. Quality observation of the handwashing using fluorescent lamp. 3. Extent of knowledge on handwashing and attitudes through survey. Results: In the first stage, the 51.7 percent the handwashing was assessed as inappropriate, in the second stage the 64.8 percent was also evaluated as inadequate, and in the surveys, the 52.4 percent had an incorrect knowledge; the attitude towards this activity was described as inappropriate in the 53.1 percent , with a better percentage in the nursing staff. Conclusions: The knowledge, attitudes and practices on handwashing were poor, so it must be designed a training program at all levels, whether undergraduate, graduate or continuing training, where individual responsibility of each healthcare professional exists, and should be highlithed(AU)

A cluster randomized controlled trial of a simplified 5-step handwashing technique versus a conventional 7-step handwashing technique among Chinese students with intellectual disabilities.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of the simplified 5-step and the conventional 7-Step hand hygiene programme in a cluster randomized controlled trial among students with intellectual disabilities. METHOD: A total of 472 Chinese students with intellectual disabilities were randomized to either simplified 5-step or conventional 7-step hand hygiene programme. Assessments included handwashing technique, cleanliness and sick leave days. RESULTS: Handwashing technique scores (g = 0.25, 95% CI [0.18, 0.32]) and hand cleanliness scores (g = 0.33, 95% CI [0.26, 0.4]) in intervention group were significantly higher than those scores in control group at 6th month post-intervention although there were significant increases in the scores within both groups. The mean number of sick leave days decreased between baseline and 10 month in both groups according to descriptive statistics. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible and effective to adopt the simplified 5-step intervention as a standardized handwashing technique for the population group with intellectual disabilities.

The effectiveness of alcohol-based gel for hand sanitising in infection control.

This article aims to evaluate the evidence relating to the effectiveness of alcohol-based gel for hand sanitising, or 'handrub', in infection control in healthcare settings with particular reference to renal nursing, as this has become pertinent due to the increasing reliance on evidence-based practice. There is a need to implement better infection control strategies and education, to reinforce knowledge among the public, health professionals and those at high risk of infection not only in renal nursing, but also in other areas of practice. Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) put patients' safety at risk, increase morbidity and mortality, extend the length of hospital admission and increase the cost to the NHS. There is evidence that the prevalence of HCAIs in England can be minimised through the use of different infection control measures. For example, alcohol-based handrub has been found to be associated with minimising the spread of gastrointestinal infections not only in hospital settings, but also in childcare centres. In addition, the UK national guidelines recommend regular handwashing (implementing the right technique) when hands are visibly dirty and hand disinfection with alcohol-based handrub when they are not visibly dirty. This should be before, in between and after different healthcare activities are performed.

Opportunities to improve domestic hygiene practices through new enabling products: a study of handwashing practices and equipment in rural Cambodia.

BACKGROUND: Lack of a dedicated place and equipment for handwashing has been associated with poor practice of handwashing with soap in the home in developing communities where the practice is needed to reduce diarrhea diseases and respiratory infections. METHODS: We conducted formative research on handwashing knowledge, attitudes, practices and equipment and investigated the need and demand for dedicated handwashing equipment to enable improved hygiene practices and enhance handwashing performance for health in rural Cambodian homes where water is collected and stored. Responses to closed and open-ended questions and structured observation of a demonstration of handwashing by the mother or another female adult child caretaker in 79 households were used to identify handwashing occasions, evaluate handwashing equipment and competency, investigate attitudes and structural barriers to handwashing with soap, and assess use of and interest in dedicated handwashing equipment. RESULTS: We found significant evidence of the need for handwashing enabling equipment to eliminate unsafe domestic water handling during handwashing and reduce structural barriers to routine handwashing with soap in Cambodian homes dependent on stored water supplies. Substantial interest in dedicated handwashing equipment and in specific equipment features was measured. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest household demand for and uptake of affordable household handwashing facilities incorporating desired features and functionality could be generated in Cambodia to support improved domestic hygiene practices.