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A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens
Published on: June 7, 2017
Improving hand hygiene adherence among nursing staff
Sarah Harne-Britner1, Marianne Allen, Kimberly A Fowler
1Nursing Professional Development, PinnacleHealth System, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101, USA. sharne-britner@pinnaclehealth.org
Abstract:
This quasi-experimental study explored initial and sustained effects of educational and behavioral interventions on hand hygiene adherence and the relationships between hand hygiene adherence and health care-associated infections. Education paired with positive reinforcement behavioral interventions significantly improved hand hygiene adherence after the first month (χ² = 4.27; P = .039); however, the improvement was not sustained over 6 months. There were no significant differences in infection rates between the treatment and control groups.
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