Association between students' personality traits and hand hygiene compliance during objective standardized clinical examinations

Abstract

Although the need for hand hygiene (HH) is generally accepted, studies continue to document inadequate compliance. Medical students are taught about the importance of HH to prevent nosocomial infections, and receive training in the correct procedures for HH. However, personality traits (social orientation and achievement orientation) may influence HH compliance. People with high social orientation feel socially responsible and act cooperatively, and people with high achievement orientation are ambitious and competitive. To evaluate the relationship between HH compliance and personality traits of medical students. The HH compliance of 155 students was observed during objective standardized clinical examinations (OSCEs). Social orientation and achievement orientation were measured using the corresponding scales of the Freiburg Personality Inventory - Revised. Social orientation did not differ between students with high HH compliance and students with low HH compliance [F(1) = 3.87, P = 0.052, η(2) = 0.045]. For achievement orientation, a moderate effect was found between low and high HH compliance [F(1) = 11.242, P = 0.001, η(2) = 0.119], and students with high HH compliance were found to be more achievement orientated than students with low HH compliance. Achievement orientation plays a major role during OSCEs, while social orientation is less emphasized. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to show that HH compliance is associated with achievement orientation in achievement situations.