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Learning Objective 1: •State the relationship between hand hygiene and the acquisition of healthcare-associated pathogens.
Learning Objective 2: •Identify factors affecting adherence to hand hygiene guidelines among healthcare workers.
A quasi-experimental, pre and post observational study was designed to determine the impact of a structured educational intervention campaign on the practice of hand hygiene compliance, and its impact on changes to the incidence and transmission of hospital acquired MRSA. The pilot units selected were the three critical care areas.
Study pre and post design data included an online knowledge, skills, and attitude survey, environmental samples, before and after patient contact observations, and hospital acquired MRSA incidence and transmission rates. The educational intervention included: online power-point presentation, weekly email blasts informing worldwide infection control data on hospital acquired infections and healthcare practices, posters displayed near sinks and hand sanitizer dispensers visually illustrate the ‘5 moments’ for hand hygiene. A ‘homegrown’ video featuring ‘dancing hands’ of nurses performing hand hygiene to the music of the “Macarena” with a repeat chorus of, “Scrub a dub a dub rub a dub rub a dubba, I like clean hands!” The tune was a fun practical approach which engaged the learner, encourage peer involvement, and assure the words ‘stick’ in your head to keep the staff hand washing the recommended 15 seconds.
Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of variables such as day of the week, shift, unit, and staff on overall observed hand hygiene. Hand hygiene compliance before and after patient contact was analyzed separately.
Overall compliance was significantly improved post educational intervention from 34% to 43% (p=0.024). No statistical significance was noted between pre and post hospital acquired incidence and transmission of MRSA.