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Embedding the hand-hygiene champion role to improve compliance in intensive care
Mary Grace Anne Batalla1, Yumna Mohammad Sali2, Alvin Cortuna3
1Critical Care Senior Staff Nurse and National Institute for Health and Care Research Predoctoral Fellow, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London.
Background:
Studies have shown that hand-hygiene compliance rates remain low, especially in high-risk patient areas such as the intensive care unit (ICU). Strategies that use active surveillance, peer-to-peer coaching and collective action can potentially improve hand-hygiene compliance rates.
Aim:
To implement the hand-hygiene champion (HHC) role to increase hand-hygiene compliance rates in the ICU.
Methods:
The hand-hygiene champion role was implemented as a quality improvement project in the critical care directorate of two tertiary hospital sites in the UK. The project followed the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle. The project was carried out from February 2025 to February 2026.
Findings:
Hand-hygiene compliance rates were significantly higher in the intervention group with HHCs, compared with the control group. In addition, hand-hygiene compliance rates significantly increased over time, post implementation of HHCs.
Conclusion:
Introducing HHCs can potentially improve hand-hygiene compliance in ICUs.
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