Perceived effectiveness of messages promoting hand hygiene

Area of Science:

• Infection Control
• Health Behavior
• Communication Strategies

Background:

• Effective hand hygiene (HH) is crucial for preventing healthcare-associated infections.
• Developing impactful messaging to promote HH compliance remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the perceived effectiveness of different messages promoting hand hygiene (HH).
• To identify message characteristics most likely to enhance HH compliance among healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-six infection control specialists assessed 24 distinct messages designed to promote HH.
• Participants rated messages based on their potential to increase HH compliance.

Main Results:

• Brief and simple messages were rated higher than complex ones.
• Messages appealing to social situations (e.g., protecting others) and ego (self-efficacy) were deemed most effective.
• Clear, concise, and ego-boosting messages showed the greatest promise for improving HH adherence.

Conclusions:

• Tailoring messages to psychological drivers like social connection and self-efficacy can significantly improve hand hygiene (HH) compliance.
• Future interventions should prioritize concise, relatable, and empowering communication strategies for infection prevention.