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Learning Objective 1: Describe a quality improvement project focused on the patient safety goal of nosocomial infection prevention.
Learning Objective 2: Understand why simple handwashing is such a powerful tool.
I surveyed 31 hospital staff, 5 males and 26 females, including registered nurses, patient care assistants, rehabilitation therapists, respiratory therapists, physicians, unit secretaries, Environmental Services staff, and nursing students by asking three questions: (1) What product do you use to wash your hands (soap and water, waterless foam or your own product); (2) What product do you prefer to use to wash your hands on Seton 1 (soap and water, waterless foam or your own product); and (3) What product do you mostly use to wash your hands on Seton1 (soap and water, waterless foam or your own product)?
At a different time, I randomly observed 31 staff to see what they actually used. Twelve (12) used soap and water, while 19 used the waterless foam. Their reasons for selecting a specific method for washing their hands are as follows: accessibility; feeling cleaner; less harshness with soap and water; and being able to use waterless foam on the run. The findings showed congruence between what staff reported using and what they were observed using. In conclusion, the products made available to staff for washing their hands are used to reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections.
See more of: Oral Paper & Poster: Evidence-Based Practice Contest