Assessing patient awareness of proper hand hygiene

The authors hypothesized that patients may not understand the forms of effective hand hygiene employed in the hospital environment.

Multiple studies demonstrate the importance of hand hygiene in reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Extensive research about how to improve compliance has been conducted.

Patients' perceptions of proper hand hygiene were evaluated when caregivers used soap and water, waterless hand cleaner, or a combination of these.

No significant differences were observed, but many patients reported they did not notice whether their providers cleaned their hands.

Educating patients and their caregivers about the protection afforded by proper, consistent hand hygiene practices is important.

Engaging patients to monitor healthcare workers may increase compliance, reduce the spread of infection, and lead to better overall patient outcomes.

This study revealed a need to investigate the effects of patient education on patient perceptions of hand hygiene.

Results of this study appear to indicate a need to focus on patient education and the differences between soap and water versus alcohol-based hand sanitizers as part of proper hand hygiene. Researchers could be asking: "Why have patients not been engaged as members of the healthcare team who have the most to lose?"