Nurses and Physicians’ Perceptions of the Importance and Impact of Healthcare-Associated Infections and Hand Hygiene: a Multi-Center Exploratory Study in Hong Kong

Abstract

Background: Hand hygiene promotion for patient safety is a challenge worldwide, and local data are critical to tailor strategies to the setting. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of nurses and physicians providing direct patient care in four hospitals in Hong Kong using an anonymous questionnaire survey. Cognitive factors related to hand hygiene and the perception of effective interventions promoting hand hygiene were assessed. Results: The overall response rate was 59.3%. Among respondents, 70% of the nurses and 49% of the physicians perceived that over 15% of patients would suffer from healthcare-associated infections. A total of 79% of the nurses and 68% of the physicians believed that more than 5% of patients would die as a result of healthcare-associated infection. A total of 60% of the nurses and 46% of the physicians acknowledged that over 75% of healthcare-associated infections could be prevented by optimal hand hygiene practices, although 36% of the nurses and 23% of the physicians claimed that six to ten hand cleansing times per hour would be necessary. Bivariate analysis showed significant differences between professionals in self-reported performance. A multivariate regression model revealed that perceived behavioral control and subjective norms were the most important factors associated with the nurses and physicians' self-reported hand hygiene performance. However when gender was taken into account among professionals, subjective norms was the only consistent one. Conclusion: These results could be used as a tool to create goal-specific strategies for motivating hand hygiene amongst nurses and physicians in Hong Kong, with appropriate promotional interventions delivered to the different professional groups and specialties.

Education of hand rubbing technique to prospective medical staff, employing UV-based digital imaging technology

“…The unsatisfactory quality of knowledge is clearly supported by the observation that according to physicians' opinion, less HH moments are enough than the amount believed necessary by other healthcare workers [11]. As an interesting analogy, the question of antibiotic resistance is generally believed of high importance by medical students; however, it will be treated superficially during their later work as physicians, similarly to the question of HH [12].…”

“…Nurses consider the danger of infection transmission during healthcare processes higher than the beginner physicians. Specialist physicians fear the least of infections, as they do not consider that patients may die of nosocomial infections [11].…”

“…Nurses consider the danger of infection transmission during healthcare processes higher than the beginner physicians. Specialist physicians fear the least of infections, as they do not consider that patients may die of nosocomial infections [11].Investigations polling future physicians show the same image. The root causes may also include the hierarchy in healthcare [13,14], because the observed behavior greatly influences the students, serving as role model [6,15].…”

Medicinos Darbuotojų Žinios Apie Rankų Higienos Reikalavimų Laikymąsi Asmens Sveikatos Priežiūros Įstaigose

“…medicinos personalo [31]. Dauguma gydytojų ir slaugytojų supranta, kad tinkama rankų higiena gali padėti išvengti hospitalinių infekcijų, tačiau dažniau rankos plaunamos po kontakto su pacientu, jo kūno skysčiais nei prieš tiesioginį kontaktą su pacientu [32]. Daug atsakingesnis rankų higienos elgesys pastebimas tarp slaugytojų nei gydytojų [32,33].…”

Hand Hygiene: Adherence Influenced by Knowledge and Subjective Norms

“…In this issue of Infection, Tai et al [2] report the results of a multi-center exploratory study in Hong Kong, which investigated the perceptions of nurses and physicians on the topic of healthcare-associated infections and hand hygiene. The study was conducted in four acute care hospitals and the results are based on a total of 1,022 questionnaires.…”