Improvement of hand hygiene compliance in a private hospital using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) method

Area of Science:

• Healthcare-associated infection prevention
• Infection control practices
• Quality improvement in healthcare

Background:

• Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant concern, with hand hygiene compliance being a critical preventive measure.
• Improving hand hygiene compliance among healthcare providers is essential for reducing infection rates.
• Previous studies highlight the challenge of maintaining high hand hygiene standards in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of an improvement initiative on hand hygiene compliance rates among healthcare providers.
• To compare hand hygiene compliance before and after the implementation of a quality improvement program.
• To identify changes in compliance across different healthcare professional groups.

Main Methods:

• An observational study was conducted over one year in a 61-bed private hospital.
• Data collection involved observing 270 healthcare staff using the "Five Moments for Hand Hygiene" protocol.
• A Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle was employed for the improvement intervention, involving the hospital's quality department.

Main Results:

• The overall hand hygiene compliance rate increased from 48% to 60% post-intervention.
• Compliance rates for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare staff improved, with notable increases for nurses (54% to 72%) and other staff (64% to 86%).
• Initial compliance rates were 35% for physicians, 54% for nurses, and 64% for other staff, while post-intervention rates were 29%, 72%, and 86%, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative efforts involving hospital administration, infection control committees, and quality departments are crucial for enhancing hand hygiene practices.
• Targeted improvement strategies, like the PDCA cycle, can effectively increase hand hygiene compliance.
• Sustained focus on hand hygiene is vital for reducing healthcare-associated infections.