Hand Hygiene Practices Research Articles

Improving Data Quality from a Hematology Unit Hand Hygiene Observation Program

Background: For United States healthcare programs to be fully compliant with Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) #7, organizations must implement and maintain a hand hygiene (HH) program that follows either the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the current World Health Organization (WHO) HH guidelines. Joint Commission standard IC.03.01.01 requires these organizations to provide metrics that evaluate the effectiveness of their program and program goals. Our center utilizes the direct observation method with the use of over 550 Hand Hygiene Observers (HHO) to collect our HH compliance. HHO are trained with a computer-based course that requires passing a post-education test. During fiscal year 2023 (FY23), Infection Control surveillance noted an increase in hospital-acquired infections (HAI) Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) on our hematologic malignancy units (HM), which initiated an Infection Control (IC) investigation into possible causes. Increased rounding by our Infection Preventionist (IP) observed that HH compliance was much lower than unit HHO reported rates. Inquiries into this data discrepancy revealed barriers to accurate reporting, including HHO having low confidence in identifying and reporting non-compliant behavior. To that end, we conducted mandatory re-training of all HM HHO with the primary goal of improving the quality of our HH compliance data and addressing barriers with non-compliance reporting. Our secondary goal was to identify areas of improvement in institutional HH rates. Methods: In August 2023, 252 HM staff and HHO received detailed, in-person retraining by the HM IP. Training included reviewing the discrepancy in HHO and IP observations, potential causes of discrepancy, most commonly missed HH opportunities, examples of correct and incorrect HH practices, and addressing staff questions. Results: Following mandatory re-training of HM HHO, HH compliance for our HM units from September 2023 – December 2023 ranged from 89% to 98%, with increased reporting of non-compliance (Figure 1). A detailed dashboard was created that focused on HM HH compliance, containing the HHO observations and non-compliant reports. Conclusion: A one-time in-person retraining of HM HHO by our IP has led to an improvement in data quality, which is imperative for future quality improvement initiatives. Improving our HH data quality allowed IC to identify and provide actionable feedback to HM leaders, create targeted interventions to improve HAI rates, and improve patient safety. Future goals include retaining of all HHO and a HH campaign to ensure patient safety across our institution.

Knowledge, attitude and practice on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and COVID-19 among households in rural Bangladesh

Enhanced water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions can significantly reduce the incidence of communicable diseases and deaths related to diarrhea by up to 65%. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advocates regular handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as an effective measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This study aims to assess rural Bangladeshi households' perceptions and knowledge concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their understanding, attitudes, and practices regarding water, sanitation, and hygiene. A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2020 and December 2020 to evaluate knowledge and practices related to safe water, sanitation, personal hygiene, and COVID-19 in rural Bangladesh. Self-administered questionnaires, pre-tested for reliability, were utilized to collect self-reported data, which were subsequently analyzed descriptively. Of the study participants, 66.78% were female, with a mean age of 40. The majority (92.36%) demonstrated adequate knowledge of personal hygiene, although 66.78% had not received hygiene education, and a significant proportion reported low levels of hygiene practices (17.28%). Nearly all respondents (98%) reported having access to a pit latrine, either with or without a seal, yet 63.12% indicated that their toilets become unusable during floods, and 29% admitted to practicing open defecation. While nearly all respondents were aware of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, only 46% had a comprehensive understanding of its transmission dynamics. Moreover, knowledge about preventive measures against the pandemic was found to be limited. Despite understanding the importance of handwashing, reported hand hygiene practices were inadequate among rural households. Additionally, a majority reported inadequate management of child feces, household waste, and sludge tanks. While awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic was high, a substantial proportion of respondents lacked understanding of its transmission and prevention methods. Moreover, fewer respondents reported using hand sanitizer when venturing outside for work. Future research should explore the impact of these behaviors on health outcomes and propose targeted interventions to improve hygiene practices. Jahangirnagar University J. Biol. Sci. 12(1 & 2): 11-21, 2023 (June & December)

DIRECTING FUNCTION OF NURSE MANAGER AND ASSOCIATE NURSE'SCOMPLIANCE IN PRACTICING HAND HYGIENE

Hand hygiene is a general term that applies to wash hands with antiseptic and handrub antiseptic. The implementation of operationalstandards of handwashing compliance procedures requires directing function from the Nurse Manager. The purpose of this studywas to determine the relationship between directing function of Nurse manager and associate nurse compliance in performing ha ndhygiene. The method used in this study was descriptive correlation with cross sectional approach. The population was allimplementing nurses at Inpatient Room of Ungaran General Hospital as many as 82 nurses. All samples were taken by totalsampling. The collecting data tool used a questionnaire of nurse’s perception on directing function of nurse manager and observationsheet on hand hygiene. The research results showed that most of nurse manager performed good directing function as many as 76people (92.7%), most of the nurses were compliance in practicing patient safety: five moment hand hygiene as many as 78 people(95,1%). The result of statistical test using Fisher's Exact Test obtained p value of 0,001 (α = 0,05). There is a correlatio n betweennurse’s perception on directing function of nurse manager with associate nurse compliance in practicing hand hygiene in inpatientroom of Ungaran General Hospital. Nurses need to increase patient safety awareness and compliance hand hygiene to minimize th eincidence of nosocomial infections.

Breast Milk and Hand Hygiene Practices among Breastfeeding Mothers in Tertiary Health Institutions in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State South-East Nigeria

Introduction: Breast milk and hand hygiene are very important aspect for breastfeeding mothers. This is because of the role breast milk plays in the early stage of development of the infant. Though breast milk is very essential for infants, its quality can be compromised when proper hygiene practices are not observed by the breastfeeding mothers. Therefore, this study is aimed at determining the knowledge and practices of breast milk and hand hygiene among breastfeeding mothers in tertiary health institutions in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Method: The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive design with a purposive sampling method to select 215 breastfeeding mothers who visited two tertiary health institutions for immunization. Data among were analyzed. Ethical approval and permission were obtained from the participating hospitals and University of Port Harcourt Ethics Committee, the institution the author affiliates. Result: The result revealed that 71.3% and 75.3% had good knowledge of breast milk and hand hygiene while 2.3% and 1.4% had poor knowledge. The study noted that 58.1% and 60.9% of the breastfeeding mothers practices breast milk and hand hygiene respectively while 21.4% and 9.8% had poor practice. The knowledge of breast milk and hand hygiene was significantly associated with practices of breast milk and hand hygiene. The result further revealed that only knowledge of breast milk hygiene was significantly associated with parity while knowledge of hand hygiene, practices of breast milk and hand hygiene was not significantly associated with parity. Conclusion: Though there is high knowledge of breast milk and hand hygiene among the breastfeeding mothers but the knowledge did not reflect with the practice. There is therefore a need for continuous education of the breastfeeding mothers on the practice of milk and hand hygiene and its importance to the growing infants.

Italian National Surveillance of Alcohol-Based Hand Rub Consumption in a Healthcare Setting-A Three-Year Analysis: 2020-2022.

Background/Objectives: Hand hygiene (HH) is pivotal in mitigating infectious disease transmission and enhancing public health outcomes. This study focuses on detailing the national surveillance system for alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) consumption in healthcare facilities across Italy, presenting results from a comprehensive three-year evaluation period, from 2020 to 2022. It aims to delineate this surveillance system and report on ABHR consumption trends in various Regions/Autonomous Provinces (Rs/APs). Methods: ABHR consumption data, collected through the ABHR Italian national surveillance system, coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), were analyzed. Statistical methods, e.g., the Mann-Whitney test, were used to assess trends in ABHR consumption, expressed in liters per 1000 patient days (L/1000PD). Results: The results show significant variation in ABHR consumption across Rs/APs and over the years studied. National median ABHR consumption decreased from 2020 to 2022, with a significant reduction from a median of 24.5 L/1000PD in 2020 to 20.4 L/1000PD in 2021 and 15.6 L/1000PD in 2022. Conclusions: The decline in ABHR consumption raises concerns about the ongoing adherence to HH practices in Italian healthcare settings. This underscores the essential role that systematic ABHR monitoring and improved surveillance play in enhancing HH compliance, suggesting that sustained and strategic efforts are fundamental to uphold high standards of hygiene and to effectively respond to fluctuating ABHR usage trends over time. Further research is needed to explore barriers to effective ABHR use and to develop targeted strategies to improve HH practices.

Quality Assurance and Prevention of COVID-19 Before Admission in Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit in Long-Term Care Facilities.

This quality assurance study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic to describe the profile of patients aged 65 years and older admitted to a transition unit in a long-term care (LTC) facility and to evaluate the impact of admission modalities, compliance with screening and hand hygiene practices, risk of COVID-19, and time to access a geriatric rehabilitation unit (GRU). A prospective study was conducted using administrative and medical records from three Montreal public LTC facilities offering a rehabilitation program for 312 patients admitted between May 2020 and February 2021. The results are reported for the entire sample and compared according to the mode of admission. The incidence of COVID-19 during the transition unit stay was estimated to be 11 cases or 3.5% in 14 days. Assessment of screening compliance showed deficiencies for 41.3% of patients, and the frequency of hand hygiene audits was not strictly adhered to. More COVID-19 cases were recorded in patients admitted to the transition unit by bed availability than in the cohort mode. The time to access a rehabilitation unit was 7.2 days or 23.5% shorter for patients admitted by bed availability. The study, conducted from a continuous practice improvement perspective, showed that the implementation of a transition unit in the LTC facilities helped control the transmission of COVID-19, but also revealed flaws in screening and hand hygiene practices.

Development and evaluation of prevention bundle for neonatal healthcare-associated infections: an interventional study

Background Neonatal healthcare-associated infection (HAI) globally is the leading preventable cause of neonatal mortality. Neonatal mortality in India is also very high. Considering that HAIs can be prevented globally, there are disparities in resources; the current study aimed at developing locally feasible and effective prevention bundles for neonatal HAIs. Methods A mixed-method study was conducted at one tertiary care teaching hospital's level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The study explores the causes of neonatal HAIs, current processes, benchmark practices, gaps in current practices with HAIs, root-cause analysis and system process mapping, and failure mode effect analysis. Observations, interviews, brainstorming activities, and a survey were conducted. Written and audio-video recorded prevention bundle was developed and implemented using a quasi-experimental study design. Results Process standardisation, healthcare worker training, hand hygiene practices, nursing care process and vascular access process were identified as key improvement areas to prevent neonatal HAIs. Out of eighteen identified processes, three processes were standardised. All the healthcare providers were trained at three-time intervals of three months each. After implementing the prevention bundle, there was a significant decline in the rate of HAIs, reducing it from 9.6 to 7.0 per 100 admissions >48 hours. The bacteraemia rate fell from 5.2 per 1000 patient days to 2.6 per 1000 patient days and was statistically significant on a two-tailed student t-test with 95% CI with p-value=0.00073. Conclusions Our developed prevention bundle for neonatal HAIs was significantly effective and reproducible for healthcare workers' training and development. Considering variations in global infection control practices and resources constraint, it is effective to develop a local prevention bundle for neonatal HAIs.

Effectiveness of Intervention Program on Primary School Pupils’ about Hand-washing Practices

This quasi-experimental study aimed to develop an intervention program to enhance hand hygiene practices among school children in Najaf Governorate. Data were collected via a questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics and hand washing behaviors. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis. Results revealed suboptimal hand hygiene practices, with only 58.2% of children washing their hands after using the bathroom and 63.4% after playing. Gender and age disparities were evident, with females and older children exhibiting better hand washing habits. Family dynamics also played a significant role, with children learning hand washing predominantly from their mothers, particularly when fathers were present and employed as earners. Recommendations include integrating hygiene education into school curricula and conducting targeted educational sessions to promote effective hand washing practices. These findings underscore the importance of addressing socio-demographic factors in designing interventions to improve hand hygiene among school children, thereby mitigating the spread of infectious diseases. Highlights : Importance of Hand Hygiene: The study highlights the significance of hand washing in preventing disease transmission, emphasizing its crucial role in maintaining public health. Gender and Age Disparities: Findings reveal differences in hand washing practices based on gender and age, underlining the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities. Influence of Family and Profession: The influence of family members, particularly parents, and the profession of the father on hand washing habits underscores the importance of familial and societal support in promoting good hygiene practices. Keywords : Hand hygiene, Intervention program, Quasi-experimental study, School curriculum, Educational session

Is there a relationship between nurses' hand hygiene beliefs, practices and ethical sensitivity?

BackgroundHand hygiene is the most important way to prevent health care-associated infections. It is important for all nurses that come in physical contact with patients the most to follow hand hygiene rules. AimThis study aimed to determine the relationship between nurses' hand hygiene beliefs and practices and their ethical sensitivity. MethodThis descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with nurses working in internal medicine, surgery and intensive care clinics of a university hospital between June and August 2022. A total of 350 nurses participated in the study. A Personal Information Form, the Ethical Sensitivity Questionnaire (ESQ), the Hand Hygiene Practice Inventory (HHPI), and the Hand Hygiene Beliefs Scale (HHBS) were used for data collection. ResultsFindings support that nurses have moderate ethical sensitivity (88.36 ± 26.33), good hand hygiene beliefs (85.60 ± 9.21) and practice (66.14 ± 5.90). Despite there being no statistical significance in evaluating the relationship between hand hygiene practice and ethical sensitivity (p = 0.253, r = −0.061), there was a statically significant inverse relationship between hand hygiene beliefs and ethical sensitivity (p = 0.001, r = −0.172). The hand hygiene compliance score of the nurses who received only ethics training after nursing school (p = 0.000); the hand hygiene belief (p = 0.011) and hand hygiene practice (p = 0.007) scores of those who received both ethics and hand hygiene training were higher. ConclusionsIt can be said that the ethical sensitivity of nurses does not affect their hand hygiene practices, and the hand hygiene and ethics education they receive after school education increases their hand hygiene beliefs and practices.

Infection prevention and control among paramedics: A scoping review

Paramedics are exposed to many infectious diseases in their professional activities, leading to a high risk of transmitting infectious diseases to patients in out-of-hospital settings, possibly leading to health care associated infections in hospitals and the community. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of infection prevention and control in health care and the role of paramedics in infection control is considered even more critical. Despite this, in many countries such as Australia, research into infection prevention and control research has mainly been focused on in-hospital health care professionals with limited out-of-hospital studies. This scoping review was based upon Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Literature on knowledge and awareness of infection prevention and control in paramedics in Australia and other countries was evaluated. Based upon selection criteria applied, six papers were identified for inclusion in this review. In many studies, infection prevention and control was identified as being important, however compliance with hand hygiene practices was low and most studies highlighted the need for more education and training on infectious disease for paramedics. Current evidence suggests that paramedics have poor compliance with recommended IPC practices. The profession needs to improve IPC education, training, and culture.

Microbiological Evaluation of Commercial Hand Sanitisers Available in Pakistan Using European Standard and Membrane Filtration Method.

To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of various commercially available alcohol-based hand sanitisers (ABHS) using European standard (EN 1500) method and perform ABHS testing with membrane filtration method. A Cross-sectional observational study. Place and Duration of the Study:Quality Control Section of the Microbiology Laboratory, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from February to April 2023. Efficacy of 14 commercially and widely accessible hand sanitisers was defined as reducing micro-organism growth. It was determined using the EN 1500 European standard test and membrane filtration method. Majority (92.8%) ABHS showed a significant bacterial reduction except one ABHS tested with the EN 1500 method. Only six ABHS products were tested through the membrane filtration method because high viscosity of hand sanitisers was causing damage to filter membranes. Continued vigilance in evaluating hand sanitiser's efficacy through robust testing methods is essential to ensure public health and prevent the dissemination of misleading products that may compromise hand hygiene practices. Hand sanitisers, European standard, Membrane filtration method, Antibacterial efficacy.

Antimicrobial resistance and self-reported hand hygiene awareness before and after an infection prevention and control programme: A 7-year analysis in a small animal veterinary teaching hospital

Infection prevention and control (IPC) in veterinary medicine is crucial to protect patients, owners, staff, and the public. An IPC programme is recommended for every animal hospital. The objective of this retrospective longitudinal study was to describe the changes in bacterial and multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial isolates and self-reported hand hygiene awareness and practices after an IPC programme to assess the long-term effect of this programme in small animal veterinary medicine. The IPC programme was implemented at our veterinary teaching hospital in April 2018, which included the establishment of an infection control task force, regular IPC lectures and poster campaigns, infrastructure improvement, and manual refinement. Laboratory-based surveillance was retrospectively conducted before and after the programme (January 2016–December 2022). Level and slope changes in bacterial isolates were evaluated using interrupted time-series analysis. Self-reported hand hygiene awareness and practices were assessed using an annual questionnaire. Additionally, hygiene product purchases during the study period were investigated.The monthly number of total and MDR bacterial isolates decreased significantly after the programme (MDR level change: −0.426; 95% confidence interval: −0.744, −0.109; P = 0.009; and MDR slope change: −0.035; 95% confidence interval: −0.058, −0.011; P = 0.003). Additionally, awareness of hand hygiene before touching animals improved after the programme. Overall self-reported hand hygiene practices improved, and hygiene product purchases significantly increased. These results suggested that the IPC programme may have long-term effects regarding reducing total and MDR bacterial isolates and improving hand hygiene awareness in veterinary medicine.

Prevalence and predictors of hand hygiene compliance in clinical, surgical and intensive care unit wards: results of a second cross sectional study at the Umberto I teaching hospital of Rome.

Hand hygiene is the most cost-effective procedure for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections, but healthcare worker compliance is often insufficient. The objective of this second cross-sectional study was to quantify hand hygiene compliance among the healthcare workers of a large teaching hospital, to explore associated factors and to compare results to those of the 2021 study. In 2022, educational sessions were conducted within each hospital department during which hospital healthcare workers received tailored feedback on the hand hygiene compliance registered in the previous year. Then, one month later, direct observations hand hygiene compliance with five World Health Organization recommendations were collected again by anonymous observers in each ward. Data were grouped by healthcare area (clinical, surgical and intensive care), and three multivariable logistic regression models were built to identify predictors of hand hygiene compliance. Overall, 5,426 observations were collected by 73 observers in three weeks. Hand hygiene compliance was 79.7%, 73.5% and 63.1% in clinical, surgical and intensive care areas, respectively, increasing in clinical wards but decreasing in surgical departments compared to the 2021 study. The multivariable analyses showed that hand hygiene compliance after patient contact was consistently higher than before patient contact, while there was some variability in compliance with other factors across the three areas. The study found suboptimal adherence to good hand hygiene practice, with the lowest rates observed before patient interaction, which, together with the variability recorded across departments, underscores the challenges involved in achieving a uniform level of compliance. Hence, additional training is essential to raise awareness among healthcare workers, while repeating this survey over time will also be crucial, so that hand hygiene compliance can be monitored and any major issue identified.

Analysis of the relationship between fear of coronavirus and hand hygiene beliefs and practices of surgical nurses: A descriptive and cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to analyse the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and hand hygiene beliefs and practices of surgical nurses. This article is a descriptive correlational study. It was conducted between February and May 2021 with 306 surgical nurses working at public and private hospitals in Northern Cyprus. A personal information form, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Hand Hygiene Belief Scale and Hand Hygiene Practices Inventory were used for data collection. Of the participants in the study, 25.41% were 29 years old or younger and 85.15% were female. The mean scores obtained from the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Hand Hygiene Belief Scale and the Hand Hygiene Practices Inventory were 23.12 ± 8.03, 81.33 ± 7.67 and 69.15 ± 1.94, respectively. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale scores were negatively correlated with the Hand Hygiene Belief Scale scores and positively correlated with the Hand Hygiene Practices Inventory scores. Hand hygiene practices were better for nurses with higher level of COVID-19 fear. Therefore, a high level of seriousness and awareness of nurses about hand hygiene, which was achieved during the COVID-19 pandemic, should be sustained to maintain proper hand hygiene practices.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice to promote hand hygiene among undergraduate medical and nursing students in a teaching hospital

: A considerable number of epidemiological evidences proved that efficient hand hygiene practices has reduced the risk of infection cross-transmission in hospital facilities. Despite the effortlessness and simplicity of the practice, compliance with hand hygiene among health care workers has been relatively very less. There is a significant lack of evidence regarding infection control training among undergraduate medical and nursing students, hence it becomes essential to re-examine the efficacy of our hand hygiene sessions and conduct programs, CMEs, workshops frequently to keep health care workers sensitized and oriented towards hand hygiene.: The present study was undertaken to assess the overall exposure of medical and nursing students towards basic hand hygiene practices through a knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaire based cross- sectional study. 100 medical and 100 nursing students were grouped into good, moderate and poor categories, based on scores from the questions testing the overall knowledge of hospital acquired infections, attitude towards hand hygiene and actual practice at the field level.: The present study showed poor knowledge among medical and nursing students i.e 41% and 60% of the participants respectively. Nursing staff showed good attitude when compared to medical students (71% and 56%). Regardless of the knowledge, practice of hand hygiene was good in both the groups 59% of medical and 71% of nursing students. On the whole, in comparison nursing population displayed better results compared to undergraduate medical student population. Nevertheless, evidently showing unsatisfactory results among both the study groups in the grounds of knowledge.: Therefore, the study concludes that knowledge and exposure to hand hygiene practices should be improved in undergraduate curriculum for both medical and nursing students which provides an opportunity to correct the bed side hygiene practices of the future health care providers at the foundation level.

Longitudinal changes in hand hygiene adherence among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dominican Republic

Hand hygiene (HH) can reduce transmission of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in healthcare facilities and is especially important in low- and middle-income countries where HH infrastructure may be insufficient and the burden of HAIs is highest. At baseline, we assessed HH infrastructure and practices among healthcare workers (HCWs) at two large hospitals in the Dominican Republic during the COVID-19 pandemic. HCWs were observed for HH adherence (HHA) (defined as the use of alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) or handwashing with soap and water) before and after patient contact and donning new gloves before patient contact. The baseline assessment was repeated following implementation of local production and distribution of ABHR and a HH promotion campaign. Descriptive analyses and regression models evaluated predictors of HHA and glove use. Cumulative HHA was 18.9%. While patient-care areas with a functional HH resource increased from 47% at baseline to 92% after the intervention, HHA declined from 23.0% to 16.7%. HHA was higher after patient contact (aOR = 5.88; 95% CI = 4.17–8.33), during a period of increased COVID-19 risk (aOR = 1.69; 95% CI = 1.05–2.77), during invasive patient contacts (aOR = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.23–2.17) and when gloves were not used (aOR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.01–1.56). The negative association between glove use and HHA diminished when access to HH resources increased. New gloves were donned before 39.6% of patient contacts. Glove use was higher among nurses (aOR = 7.12; 95% CI = 3.02–16.79) and during invasive contacts (aOR = 4.76; 95% CI = 2.27–10.0). While access to HH resources increased after the interventions, HHA did not increase. HHA was lower when COVID-19 risk was lower. Findings from this study may guide future efforts to increase HHA among HCWs.

Assessment of Post-Covid-19 Hand Hygiene Compliance Among Nigeria Certificate in Education Biology Students in Zaria, Nigeria

This study titled Assessment of post-COVID-19 hand hygiene compliance among Nigeria Certificate in Education Biology Students in Zaria, Nigeria was a cross-sectional survey work. The study was guided by three research questions and three research objectives. Three hundred forty-six (346) NCE biology students were chosen at random from a population of three thousand four hundred and forty-one using the random sampling technique. The data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire titled "Students Hand-Hygiene Compliance Questionnaire (SHCQ)" which underwent validation by two science education experts from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Split-half method was adopted to determine reliability which gave the reliability coefficient value of 0.77 with Spearman rank statistics. The researchers administered the instrument to respondents over two weeks. The mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the gathered data. According to the results, the College established hand hygiene compliance during the COVID-19 era (X = 4.00, S.D. = 1.20); NCE Biology students in Zaria had low levels of post-COVID-19 hand hygiene compliance (X = 2.80, S.D. = 1.02); and there weren't many obstacles to post-COVID-19 hand hygiene compliance (X = 3.74, S.D. = 1.08). Recommendations among others include: the College management should continue to prioritize and reinforce a robust infrastructure for handwashing facilities, ensure the availability of soap and sanitizers, and conduct regular educational campaigns on proper hand hygiene practices.

Exploring the Relationship between Knowledge and Attitudes, Adherence and Confidence on Hand Hygiene Practices Among Thai Nursing Students

Background: Hand hygiene plays a crucial role in infection control in healthcare settings, but there is a concerning gap in compliance rates among healthcare workers globally. Nursing students, who will form a substantial part of the future healthcare workforce, are key to effective hand hygiene practices. A significant educational gap in hand hygiene exists globally, especially in Asia, including Thailand. Research on nursing students’ knowledge, attitude, adherence to, and confidence in hand hygiene is still limited, despite their frequent non-compliance with standard protocols. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the correlations and associated factors between knowledge, attitudes, adherence to, and confidence in hand hygiene practices among first-year nursing students at a Thai nursing college.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with all 116 first-year nursing students from Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Thailand. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and multiple logistic regression analysis.Results: The results show that only 46.6% of students demonstrated good knowledge of hand hygiene, but a higher percentage showed positive attitudes (51.7%) and adherence (55.2%). A majority (76.7%) had good confidence in their hand hygiene practices. Positive correlations were observed between knowledge and attitude, attitude and adherence, and adherence and confidence. Male students generally had better knowledge, while those with lower GPAs tended to have higher confidence in hand hygiene. The findings of this study are in line with previous studies, indicating that knowledge does not always lead to positive attitudes or adherence to hand hygiene. Also, confidence is necessary for effective hand hygiene practices.Conclusions: This study highlights the factors related to hand hygiene practices among Thai nursing students and emphasizes the need for comprehensive, culturally sensitive educational strategies. Future research should consider various contextual factors, such as gender differences and academic performance, to enhance hand hygiene practices among nursing students.

Hand hygiene perceptions, preferences, and practices among hospital staff in the Dominican Republic in the context of COVID-19: a qualitative study

Proper hand hygiene (HH), which includes sanitizing with alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) (or handwashing with soap and water if ABHR is unavailable), is key for preventing healthcare-associated infections (HCAI), including COVID-19. Understanding drivers of HH is key to improving adherence. This study aims to explore drivers and barriers to HH practice at two hospitals in the Dominican Republic in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic to inform development of HH behaviour change interventions. We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 hospital staff during September 2021. We used the COM-B (capability, opportunity, motivation, behaviour) model to explore HH experiences and preferences. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded, and analysed using a thematic approach. A total of 11 parent codes and 27 sub-codes were identified, and 1145 coded segments were analysed. Use of handwashing with soap and water and/or sanitizing with ABHR was reported by all participants; handwashing was generally preferred. Participants expressed knowledge of proper HH methods (capability), but inconsistent supplies and lack of time presented HH challenges (opportunity). Interviewees described practicing HH to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19 and other infections (reflective motivation) or out of habit (automatic motivation). By understanding and addressing underlying factors affecting HH, hospitals can decrease the risk of HCAIs. Our findings suggest that interventions implemented to improve HH in these hospitals should target motivation and opportunity. These findings informed a multimodal intervention to increase ABHR access and implement message-tested communications campaigns; end-point assessments will provide insights into the intervention's impact.

Knowledge of HIV as an Important Rural Problem: A Descriptive Study of Priority Health Problems

Health as a complex problems requires prioritisation and identification of root causes to determine appropriate interventions. This study aimed to determine the priority health problems in Bonto Matene Village, Segeri District, Pangkajene and Islands Regency. Perform research using descriptive approaches. Univariate analysis was applied to determine the hierarchy of health concerns based on survey responses collected through standardized questionnaires conducted during interviews. The prioritization of health problems was carried out by utilizing Hanlon's qualitative method through focus group discussions. The Ishikawa diagram, also referred to as the fishbone diagram, was used to identify the root cause of a problem. The survey, which included 272 families and a total of 520 individuals, identified 14 health problems. The factors contributing to these issues encompass substandard waste management practices resulting in improper composting, occupational health disorders, occupational accidents, hypertension, insufficient COVID-19 vaccination doses (3), segregation of organic and non-organic waste, work-related injuries, ISPA (Influenza-like Illness), limited access to clean water, inadequate hand hygiene practices, smoking within the household, insufficient physical exercise, limited knowledge about HIV, and irregular consumption of TB medication. The primary health issue in Bonto Matene Village was a lack of knowledge about HIV. To address this, an intervention is developed to enhance HIV knowledge through direct education and various media platforms. The aim is to raise awareness and improve community understanding of HIV, while also promoting the adoption of safe and healthy behaviors in place of risky behaviors.