Alcohol-based hand rub: influence of healthcare workers' knowledge and perception on declared use

Handrubbing with alcohol-based hand rub (AHR) is a validated alternative to handwashing. The aims of this study were to compare knowledge and declared use of AHR between different categories of healthcare worker (HCW), and to assess factors associated with the use of AHR. A standardized questionnaire was sent to all HCWs in a tertiary care university hospital. The following data were collected for each HCW: job title (physician, nurse, nursing assistant or other), sources of information about AHR; knowledge and perception of AHR and declared use of AHR in daily practice instead of unmedicated or antiseptic soap. Of 5238 questionnaires, 1811 were returned. Physicians had better knowledge about AHR than other HCWs. HCWs' knowledge of AHR efficacy and skin tolerance were independently associated with the use of AHR instead of unmedicated or antiseptic soap. The declared use of AHR differed according to professional category.