Applied Nursing Research
Volume 23, Issue 2 , Pages 86-90, May 2010

Exploring the factors associated with hand hygiene compliance of nurses during routine clinical practice

  • Denise M. Korniewicz, PhD, RN, FAAN

      Affiliations

    • University of Miami, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Miami, FL 33134, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1 305 284 8347; fax: +1 305 667 3787.
  • ,
  • Maher El-Masri, PhD, RN

      Affiliations

    • Faculty of Nursing Health Education Centre Windsor, University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9E 4S9

Received 31 March 2008; received in revised form 2 June 2008; accepted 5 June 2008. published online 16 January 2009.

Abstract 

Background

Nurses and other health care providers (HCPs) continue to be noncompliant with the guidelines of proper hand hygiene practices.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors associated with hand hygiene compliance among HCPs during routine clinical.

Methods

An observational study was conducted at an oncology hospital to examine hand hygiene practices observed during 612 procedures that were performed by 67 HCPs.

Results

Hand hygiene compliance was 41.7% (n = 255) before procedure and 72.1% (n = 441) after the procedure. The overall compliance was only 34.3% (n = 210). Compliance with the standards of hand hygiene was higher in high-risk procedures (odds ratio [OR] = 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18–2.65) and when HCPs were exposed to blood (OR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.07–1.73).

Conclusion

The findings highlight the need to continue to push compliance with hand hygiene using innovative approaches that go beyond teaching and in-service training.

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 This study was partially funded by Packaging Concepts Assoc., LLC, Boynton Beach, FL.

PII: S0897-1897(08)00050-5

doi:10.1016/j.apnr.2008.06.002

Applied Nursing Research
Volume 23, Issue 2 , Pages 86-90, May 2010