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A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens
Published on: June 7, 2017
An elicitation study of critical care nurses' salient hand hygiene beliefs
Susan E Piras1, Jana Lauderdale1, Ann Minnick1
1Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, 461 21st Ave., South Nashville, TN 37240-1119, United States.
Aim:
To describe critical care nurses' hand hygiene attitudinal, normative referent, and control beliefs.
Background:
Hand hygiene is the primary strategy to prevent healthcare-associated infections. Social influence is an underdeveloped hand hygiene strategy.
Methods:
This qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 25 ICU nurses in the southeastern United States. Data were collected using the Nurses' Salient Belief Instrument.
Results:
Thematic analysis generated four themes: Hand Hygiene is Protective; Nurses look to Nurses; Time-related Concerns; and Convenience is Essential.
Conclusion:
Nurses look to nurses as hand hygiene referents and believe hand hygiene is a protective behaviour that requires time and functional equipment.
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