Patient, staff empowerment and hand hygiene bundle improved and sustained hand hygiene in hospital wards

Chia Yin Chong, Marionette A Catahan, Siok Hong Lim, Thuraiya Jais, Gian Kaur, Shanqing Yin, Dirk de Korne, Koh Cheng Thoon, Kee Chong Ng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
227 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

AIM: We piloted a hand hygiene (HH) project in a ward, focusing on World Health Organization moments 1 and 4. Our aim was to design highly reliable interventions to achieve >90% compliance.

METHODS: Baseline HH compliance was 57 and 67% for moments 1, 4, respectively, in 2015. After the pilot ward showed sustained improvement, we launched the 'HH bundle' throughout the hospital. This included: (i) appointment of HH champions; (ii) verbal/visual bedside reminders; (iii) patient empowerment; (iv) hand moisturisers; (v) tagging near-empty handrub (HR) bottles. Other hospital-wide initiatives included: (vi) Smartphone application for auditing; (vii) 'Speak up for Patient Safety' Campaign in 2017 for staff empowerment; (viii) making HH a key performance indicator.

RESULTS: Overall HH compliance increased from a baseline median of 79.6-92.6% in end-2019. Moments 1 and 4 improved from 71 to 92.7% and from 77.6 to 93.2%, respectively. Combined HR and hand wash consumption increased from a baseline median of 82.6 ml/patient day (PD) to 109.2 mL/PD. Health-care-associated rotavirus infections decreased from a baseline median of 4.5 per 10 000 PDs to 1.5 per 10 000 PDs over time.

CONCLUSIONS: The 'HH Bundle' of appointing HH champions, active reminders and feedback, patient education and empowerment, availability of hand moisturisers, tagging near-empty hand rub bottles together with hospital-wide initiatives including financial incentives and the 'Speak Up for Patient Safety' campaign successfully improved the overall HH compliance to >90%. These interventions were highly reliable, sustained over 4 years and also reduced health-care-associated rotavirus infection rates.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1460-1466
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Paediatrics and Child Health
Volume57
Issue number9
Early online date28 Apr 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to thank all the nursing and physician champions, environmental services, allied health service, catering, infection control nurses and all who made this project possible.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicians).

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