Hand hygiene beliefs and practices and five indications-oriented hand hygiene observation results among healthcare professionals: a retrospective study

Abstract

Aim: The present study attempted to retrospectively depict hand hygiene beliefs and practices and five indications-oriented hand hygiene observation results among physicians and nurses employed in the internal, surgical, emergency, and intensive care units of a district state hospital. Methods: While the target population consists of healthcare professionals deployed in the internal, surgical, emergency, and intensive care units of a district hospital (n = 426), we carried out this study with 122 nurses and 53 physicians (n = 175). We collected the data using a demographic information form, the Hand Hygiene Beliefs Scale (HHBS), and Hand Hygiene Practices Inventory (HHPI). Results: The findings revealed the participants’ mean scores to be 93.05±13.08 on the HHBS (61.86±9.01 on the hand hygiene importance subscale and 27.18±5.31 on the hand hygiene beliefs subscale) and 68.04±5.01 on the HHPI. We also considered a total of 1,228 notes from hand hygiene observations. While 78.25% of these observations were found to comply with hand hygiene standards, 59.55% (n = 159) of 267 observations regarding non-compliance with hygiene rules were realized to be linked with improper gloves use. Conclusion: Overall, the participating healthcare professionals adopted firmer hand hygiene beliefs and practices, which may be thanks to the achievement of relevant in-service training and the effective planning of the infection control committee. Yet, most of the hygiene non-compliance could be attributed to improper gloves use.