Hand Hygiene Practices at Mina Hospitals’ Emergency Departments During Hajj Season 2012, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives: To observe and make recommendations for both the provided facilities and compliance of hand hygiene practices of HCWs at the emergency departments of the four Mina hospitals during Hajj 2012. Methods: An observational descriptive cross-sectional study. The observation includes the hand hygiene facilities in each department, and study participants were randomly selected from doctors and nurses in the emergency departments (n = 243) and were unobtrusively observed for "WHO 5 Moments". Results: Of total 243 doctors and nurses observed for hand hygiene compliance, the overall compliance rate was 45.5%, hand hygiene adherence was lower among male than female HCWs, also male doctors were lower adherence than female doctors, and this was statistically significant. The high adherence was observed at moment after body fluid exposure risk (87.9%). The favored way was alcohol hand rub at 77.4% (425), and also the provided facilities were significantly varied across hospitals. Conclusions: The overall hand hygiene compliance rate is 45.5%. The compliance rate increases where there are available hand hygiene facilities.