Authors (including presenting author) :
Cheung KYT(1), Mok LC(1), Lai SWV(1), Ng YY(1), Chan YY(1), Lam YT(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Introduction :
Hospital-acquired infections, such as surgical site infections and multi-drug resistant organism infections, increase morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Hand hygiene (HH) is essential for breaking the chain of infection. Maintaining good HH compliance is an ongoing process instead of a single task in a single episode. Starting from early 2021, the Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology (O&T) in PYNEH has adopted an ongoing HH enhancement program called "Safety - It's in Your Hands" to uphold HH compliance in the clinical area. A multimodal hand hygiene improvement strategy from World Health Organization (WHO) was adopted as the framework to correct malpractices and misbehaviors amongst the healthcare team. Additionally, an electronic sensor-triggered voice reminder was introduced for HH education.
Objectives :
1. To enhance HH compliance rate in O&T. 2. To enhance staff awareness of HH practices.
Methodology :
A HH promotion program, "Safety - It's in Your Hands," has been implemented in O&T since February 2021. HH promoting interventions were implemented based on the guideline of the multimodal strategy from WHO. First, HH awareness was enhanced by increasing knowledge through education and dissemination. Electronic sensor-triggered voice reminders with customized slogans were installed at the designated entrances, automatically playing educational slogans when people passed by. Visible reminders for delivering HH compliance messages were set up, including tailor-made posters in clinical areas, HH promotion tags fastening to alcohol-based hand rubs and double-sided cue cards for reminding staff of the HH five moments as well as handwashing techniques. Second, "HH technique exercises" were held weekly to reinforce HH compliance. Third, to address the HH behavioral impediments, HH surveillance with real-time feedback was conducted during the bedside procedures. HH compliance rates with feedback and evaluations were shared amongst staff through the "Hand Hygiene Enhancement Communication Board." Fourth, staff-designed retractable badge clips were distributed to all participants as positive reinforcement. Finally, questionnaires were collected from all participants for evaluation.
Result & Outcome :
A total of 863 HH opportunities were observed from 1 February 2021 to 31 December 2021. The department’s HH compliance rate was improved from 60.0% to 87.5%, similar to the observation from the hospital's infection control team in 2021 (from 78.6% to 93%). All participants agreed that the program had increased their awareness for performing HH.
