Abstract
Objective: because they are health professionals, nursing and medical students' hands during internships can function as a transmission vehicle for hospital-acquired infections. Method: a descriptive study with nursing and medical degree students on the quality of the hand hygiene technique, which was assessed via a visual test using a hydroalcoholic solution marked with fluorescence and an ultraviolet lamp. Results: 546 students were assessed, 73.8% from medicine and 26.2% from nursing. The area of the hand with a proper antiseptic distribution was the palm (92.9%); areas not properly scrubbed were the thumbs (55.1%). 24.7% was very good in both hands, 29.8% was good, 25.1% was fair, and 20.3% was poor. The worst assessed were the male, nursing and first year students. There were no significant differences in the age groups. Conclusions: hand hygiene technique is not applied efficiently. Education plays a key role in setting a good practice base in hand hygiene, theoretical knowledge, and in skill development, as well as good practice reinforcement.
Highlights
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are one of the main causes for morbility and mortality in the health field, which constitute one of the main issues in global public health[1].Health professionals’ hands are one of the main transmission mechanisms for HAIs
The World Health Organizations’ (WHO) recommendations about enhancement strategies and better hand hygiene (HH) practice are considered as reference criteria, setting up several educational interventions targeting health professionals[4]
Our study was a descriptive, cross-sectional study that occurred in two periods of time, and a sample was limited by the Universidad de Extremadura (UEX), namely the Medicine Campus where medicine and nursing undergraduate studies are available
Summary
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are one of the main causes for morbility and mortality in the health field, which constitute one of the main issues in global public health[1].Health professionals’ hands are one of the main transmission mechanisms for HAIs. In everyday clinical practice, hand hygiene (HH) is happening less often than desired[3]. The World Health Organizations’ (WHO) recommendations about enhancement strategies and better HH practice are considered as reference criteria, setting up several educational interventions targeting health professionals[4]. Both in Spain[5] and in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura[6], promotion and knowledge development as well as a culture of patient safety are being stressed among professionals and patients in all health service levels. While performing its working lines on a local stage, the Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Infanta Cristina de Badajoz, the Sociedad Española de Medicina Preventiva, Salud Pública e Higiene (SEMPSPH) planned educational seminars and workshops about hand hygiene and its assessment
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