The power of vivid experience in hand hygiene compliance

In recent years, explicit behavioural theories have been used in some research into hand hygiene behaviour. One of the most prominent of these has been the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). In this qualitative study aimed at increasing understanding of infection prevention practice in the acute care setting, TPB was identified as a suitable framework for the emergence of new insights that have the potential to improve the power of existing education and training. The theory emerging from the research was based on a finding that individual experience is of greater import than formal education in explaining hand hygiene behaviour. This indicated that exposure to vivid vicarious experience is a potential means to improving the power of existing training methods and increasing the propensity for instilling sustainable adequate hand hygiene habits.