Focusing on Hand Hygiene with a Promotional Campaign

Abstract

ISSUE: Improved adherence to hand hygiene has been shown to terminate outbreaks in healthcare facilities, reduce transmission of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms, and reduce overall infection rates. In addition to handwashing with soap and water, the CDC now recommends that healthcare personnel also use alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs). ABHRs address some of the obstacles that healthcare personnel face when taking care of patients, such as inaccessibility of sinks and lack of time. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has made hand hygiene a patient safety goal for 2004. PROJECT: In order to emphasize the importance of hand hygiene, Infection Control & Epidemiology partnered with the Patient Safety Committee and public relations department to develop a promotional campaign that coincided with the introduction of a new ABHR. The three-part campaign consisted of posters, lapel pins, point-of-service messages, quizzes, and newsletter articles. Campaigns were initiated in July 2003, October 2003, and January 2004. RESULTS: Quizzes were distributed during each campaign to generate interest and as an educational tool. Staff members who returned a completed quiz were given a lapel pin. The departments with the largest return rates for each campaign were awarded a prize (i.e., pizza party, goodie basket). In both July and October, over 1,000 quizzes were returned. LESSONS LEARNED: An innovative, fun, upbeat campaign generated increased enthusiasm and motivated staff to learn more about the importance of hand hygiene. It also provided an opportunity to highlight the introduction of a new ABHR.