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Hand Washing Compliance is a Problem among Health Care Professionals

Hand Washing Compliance is a Problem among Health Care Professionals. Catherine Carney, RN SUNY Institute of Technology Nursing Leadership-344. Overview.

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Hand Washing Compliance is a Problem among Health Care Professionals

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  1. Hand Washing Compliance is a Problem among Health Care Professionals Catherine Carney, RN SUNY Institute of Technology Nursing Leadership-344

  2. Overview • “The primary objective of hand hygiene has always been to reduce pathogen transmission and health are acquired infections (HCAI’s)” (Mortell, p. 1011). • Efficient hand hygiene aims to decrease patient morbidity and mortality. • Hand washing is the single most important strategy in preventing the spread of infection.

  3. History on hand hygiene • Dates back to as early as 800 BC (Mortell, p. 1012). • Infection control practices became more prevalent over time as science had evolved. • Hand hygiene has become an integral part of our culture. • Hand hygiene is now taught at every level of school.

  4. Research on education programs and hand hygiene • Mortell suggests that “clinicians are not aware of hand hygiene practices and are lacking in education on this issue” (Mortell, p. 1012). • After observational surveillance, hand hygiene compliance dropped from 70% to 60% at Mortell’s healthcare organization but for nurses and paramedics rose from 70% to 80% compliance after ongoing education (Mortell, p.1012). • This study concludes education and training are needed to increase compliance and decrease HCAI’s.

  5. Research on education programs cont’ • One study found that education and training programs were not enough to aid in compliance with hand hygiene (Fitzpatrick et al., p. 270). • The use of a training video designed to make practitioner’s want to comply with hand hygiene was used. • The program results according to the pre and post tests showed a statistically significant improvement in the knowledge base of medical students and attending physicians.

  6. Research on education programs cont’ • A study in Clinical Infectious Diseases used camera monitors to help increase compliance with hand washing among health care professionals. • Light emitting diode boards were used in the hallways that provided positive feedback were also used. • The study concluded that people’s behavior involving hand hygiene practices had changed and three years later, people are still maintaining hand hygiene practices.

  7. Relevance to nursing • Nurses have a moral obligation to adopt effective hand hygiene practices. • Nurses are patient advocates, leaders, and are at the front line of helping to decrease HCAI’s. • With ongoing nursing initiated and directed education programs, hand washing compliance can be achieved.

  8. Imogene King’s Goal-Attainment theory and hand hygiene • King’s framework is based on the assumption that human beings are the focus of nursing. • The goal of nursing, according to King, is health promotion, health maintenance health restoration, care of the sick, and care of the dying. • This correlates to hand hygiene as health care workers are at the forefront in helping to decrease HCAI’S through using proper hand hygiene methods.

  9. Imogene King’s theory cont’ • Practitioners’ have the primary goal to do no harm and they need to adopt beliefs and behaviors that support this goal in accordance to hand hygiene. • Continuing education and training to achieve the goal of decreasing HCAI’s and decreasing morbidity and mortality rates is needed which can be supported through King’s theory.

  10. Conclusion • Implementation of education programs on hand hygiene to health care professionals is a necessity as it can help decrease patient mortality and morbidity rates. • It has been shown through research that health care workers do not always comply to hand washing policies so the need for education programs is prevalent. • Proper hand hygiene is the single most important factor that can have the most influence on the prevention of health care associated infections.

  11. References • Cameras, Feedback: Effective Tools to Enforce Hand Washing. (2012). AACN Bold Voices, 45(3), 23. • Fitzpatrick, M., Everett-Thomas, R., Nevo, I., Shekhter, I., Rosen, L., Scheinman, S., & Birnback, D. (2011). A novel educational programme to improve knowledge regarding health care associated infection and hand hygiene. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 17(3), 269-274. • Khowaja, K. (2006). Utilization of King’s interacting systems framework and theory of goal attainment with new multidisciplinary model: clinical pathway. Australian Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 24(2), 44-50. • Mortell, M. (2012). Hand Hygiene compliance: is there a theory-practice-ethics gap?. British Journal Of Nursing, 21(17), 1011-1014.

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