Interventions to improve knowledge or compliance to hand hygiene in nursing students: A scoping review

Abstract

Background During their training process, nursing students carry out internships in different care settings, which implies direct contact with more than one patient simultaneously. Their hands represent a vehicle for transmitting pathogens that cause healthcare-related infections. Various interventions have been proposed to improve nursing students' knowledge or compliance to hand hygiene. However, the information on these interventions is scattered in the literature. Objectives This study was conducted to identify and describe the interventions to improve knowledge or compliance to hand hygiene in nursing students evaluated in the scientific literature. Methods The scoping review methodology guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) was adopted. Screening and data extraction were performed by two reviewers using templates developed by the authors. Results Thirteen studies were included. Education and training were highlighted as the central core components for interventions. The duration ranged from 15 min to 1 week. The number of sessions varied between one to three sessions. The content was based mainly on the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Conclusions There is a limited body of interventions to improve knowledge or compliance to the hand hygiene technique in nursing students. Education and training were highlighted as the central core components for interventions. New primary studies are needed and should include a description in detail of the characteristics of the interventions.