Hand Hygiene Research Paper

Each year the number of health care associated infections (HAI) increases and has been estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of people around the world. In the United States this accounts for approximately 1 in 25 patients ("Hand Hygiene Basics," 2014). Health care associated infections are considered to be the most persistant adverse event in health care. Hand washing is considered to be one of the best methods for preventing the spread of infection and that poor hand hygiene places patients at high risk ("The Evidence for Clean," n.d.). Patients receiving care in hospitals, long term care facilities, and nursing homes are especially at high risk for developing infections while being cared for. Most health care associated infections

Numerous studies have reported that hand hygiene reduces health care associated infection rates. Compliance to proper hand hygiene guidelines continues to be low among health care workers. To improve hand hygiene performance and have continued compliance over time, the need to find out what the barriers are need to be sought out. These may include poor access to hand hygiene information, skin irritation, forgetfulness, time constraints, a perception that hand hygiene interferes with worker-patient relationships, lack of knowledge of hand hygiene guidelines, and poor habits learned early in life (KuKanich, Kaur, Freeman, & Powell, 2013, p.

Are there differences in the adherence to washing hands at baseline and after a period of time?

3. Are there differences in the frequency of hand washing based on the worker’s gender, profession, and pre and post patient contact?

4. What preferences do health care workers have in the type of hygiene product?

5. Which interventional tools were motivating and influenced hand hygiene habits? The research used in this study was quantitative. The study used an interventional design, and performed observation to measure hand hygiene opportunities and attempts at baseline, after an intervention, and during a follow up period. A survey was also used at the follow up period to determine what the perceptions were to the campaign. Permission was obtained from the administration department of a large Midwestern health care system, and clinics gave consent to participate. The participants were mostly doctors and nurses. The intervention used of introducing an alcohol based gel sanitizer and informational posters to increase the workers awareness to take personal responsibility for reducing the spread of health care associated infections (KuKanich, Kaur, Freeman, & Powell, 2013, p.