Global hand hygiene improvement progress: two surveys using the WHO Hand Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Global Health Security

Background:

• Hand hygiene is critical for preventing healthcare-associated infections.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Hand Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework to monitor progress.
• Global participation in hand hygiene assessments provides valuable insights into facility-level improvements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate global progress in hand hygiene practices.
• To assess the effectiveness of the Hand Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework.
• To identify trends in hand hygiene scores across different WHO regions.

Main Methods:

• Two global surveys were conducted in 2011 and 2015.
• The Hand Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework was utilized.
• Data from 86 health facilities that participated in both surveys were analyzed for score changes.

Main Results:

• An overall significant increase in hand hygiene scores was observed (P<0.001).
• Average scores rose from 335.1 (SD 7.5) in 2011 to 374.4 (SD 90.5) in 2015.
• Significant improvements were noted in the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, and Western Pacific WHO regions (P<0.01).

Conclusions:

• Global hand hygiene improvement efforts show positive trends.
• The Hand Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework is a valuable tool for monitoring progress.
• Sustained efforts are crucial for continued advancements in infection prevention.