Evaluation of hand hygiene: Is university medical education effective in prevention of hospital-acquired infections?

Abstract

Objective: Hand hygiene (HH) compliance is associated with effective prevention of health care-associated infections (HAI), the topic being very important due to current COVID-19 pandemic. There is a growing debate about the role of educational institutions in the low HH compliance of health workers. This study aimed to assess HH knowledge, self-assessment and attitudes of medical students in relation to provided educational background.Methods: A cross-sectional survey (mixed methods-approach) combined with the curriculum analysis and questionnaires. Quantitative method: a questionnaire of knowledge of HH issues (QK), and a questionnaire of self-assessment and attitudes (SAQ) towards HH. Qualitative method focused on an analysis of content of the curriculum documents.Results: 250 (KQ) and 238 (SAQ) questionnaires were analysed from students of general medicine (n = 262; average age 22.5 years). Belowaverage knowledge of HH and a high self-assessment of knowledge and compliance with HH was reported by 72.2% and 76.0% of students, respectively. Significant differences in knowledge and self-assessment of HH were found among study years and gender. The content analysis has revealed gaps in HH-related information in general medicine educational programme.Conclusions: It is highly expected that there might be some association between low HH knowledge level, false self-assessment and educational programme in medical students.

Modern Approaches to Teaching Hand Hygiene in Higher Medical Educational Institutions

“…А профілактика внутрішньолікарняної інфекції, в першу чергу, розпочинається із гігієни рук. Дотримання медичними працівниками принципів чистоти рук є одним із найбільш ефективних заходів профілактики інфекцій, які пов'язані з наданням медичної допомоги як на догоспітальному рівні, так і у закладах охорони здоров'я [7]. Причому, у клінічній практиці гігієна рук є найпростішим і економічно ефективним способом зниження частоти передачі інфекцій, пов'язаних із наданням медичної допомоги [8].…”