An evaluation of hospital hand hygiene practice and glove use in Hong Kong

Chua, Janita P.-C., Thompson, David R., Twinn, Sheila, Lee, Diana T. F. and Pang, Sharon W. M. (2011) An evaluation of hospital hand hygiene practice and glove use in Hong Kong. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 20 9-10: 1319-1328.

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Author Chua, Janita P.-C.
Thompson, David R.
Twinn, Sheila
Lee, Diana T. F.
Pang, Sharon W. M.
Title An evaluation of hospital hand hygiene practice and glove use in Hong Kong
Journal name Journal of Clinical Nursing  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2011-05
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2010.03586.x
Volume number 20
Issue number 9-10
ISSN 0962-1067
1365-2702
Start page 1319
End page 1328
Total pages 10
Place of publication Oxford, U.K.
Publisher Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
Collection year 2012
Language eng
Formatted abstract Aim. To identify omissions in hand hygiene practice and glove use among hospital workers in Hong Kong.

Background. Hospital-acquired infection is the commonest complication affecting hospitalised patients. Even though research evidence suggests that hand hygiene and proper glove use are the most important ways to prevent the spread of disease and infection, compliance with both are reported to be unacceptably low.

Design. An observational study of hospital workers in one acute and two convalescence and rehabilitation hospitals in Hong Kong was conducted. The participating clinical areas included the medical and surgical wards, accident and emergency department and intensive care unit.

Methods. Hand hygiene practice and glove use amongst 206 hospital health and support workers, stratified according to years of working experience, were observed.

Results. The number of observed episodes for hand hygiene was 1037 and for glove use 304. Compliance with hand hygiene was 74·7% and with glove use 72·4%. In approximately two-third of episodes, participants washed their hands after each patient contact; though, 78·5% failed to rub their hands together vigorously for at least 15 seconds. The major break in compliance with glove use was failure to change gloves between procedures on the same patient. In 28·6% of observed glove use episodes, participants did not wear gloves during procedures that exposed them to blood, body fluids, excretion, non-intact skin or mucous membranes. Significant differences in performance scores on antiseptic hand rub were found between the two types of hospital and on glove use between the three groups of work experience: ≤5, 6-10, >10years.

Relevance to clinical practice. Education and reinforcement of proper hand hygiene practice and glove use among hospital health and support workers is needed.
Keyword Gloves
Hand disinfection
Hong Kong
Infection control
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Official 2012 Collection
School of Nursing and Midwifery Publications
 
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Created: Wed, 11 May 2011, 13:37:43 EST by Vicki Percival on behalf of School of Nursing and Midwifery