The role of parents on hand hygiene promotion in the pediatric setting – a systematic review

F Bellissimo-Rodrigues,W Zingg,D Pittet

doi:10.1186/2047-2994-4-s1-p290

Abstract

The parental instinct of offspring protection has evolved and perpetuated for millenniums across a wide range of species. When a child is sick and particularly when it is hospitalized, parents and other caregivers have to share their natural and social role of child protection with the healthcare workers. This may create conflict but also the opportunity for establishing a partnership between all actors in favor of delivering safe care to the child. One of the main issues on that partnership is the promotion of hand hygiene (HH) because both parents and healthcare workers must respect HH, which is considered the most effective preventive measure against health-care associated infections (HAI).

Highlights

The parental instinct of offspring protection has evolved and perpetuated for millenniums across a wide range of species
One of the main issues on that partnership is the promotion of hand hygiene (HH) because both parents and healthcare workers must respect HH, which is considered the most effective preventive measure against health-care associated infections (HAI)
We aimed to review the scientific evidence available about the parents’ participation in hand hygiene promotion in the pediatric setting

Summary

Introduction

The parental instinct of offspring protection has evolved and perpetuated for millenniums across a wide range of species. When a child is sick and when it is hospitalized, parents and other caregivers have to share their natural and social role of child protection with the healthcare workers. This may create conflict and the opportunity for establishing a partnership between all actors in favor of delivering safe care to the child. One of the main issues on that partnership is the promotion of hand hygiene (HH) because both parents and healthcare workers must respect HH, which is considered the most effective preventive measure against health-care associated infections (HAI)

Methods

Results

Conclusion