Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

A multifaceted approach to changing handwashing behavior

E L Larson1, J L Bryan, L M Adler

  • 1Georgetown University School of Nursing, Washington DC 20005, USA.

American Journal of Infection Control
|February 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Use of antibiotics in paediatric long-term care facilities.

The Journal of hospital infection·2017
Same author

Relationship between patient safety climate and standard precaution adherence: a systematic review of the literature.

The Journal of hospital infection·2015
Same author

Prevalence and risk factors for Staphylococcus aureus colonization in individuals entering maximum-security prisons.

Epidemiology and infection·2013
Same author

Risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia differ depending on the control group chosen.

Epidemiology and infection·2013
Same author

PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis).

Molecular ecology resources·2011
Same author

Effectiveness of bundled behavioural interventions to control healthcare-associated infections: a systematic review of the literature.

The Journal of hospital infection·2007
Same journal

Optimizing Hospital Admission Screening for Candidozyma auris: Comparative Cost-Impact of Workflow Strategies.

American journal of infection control·2026
Same journal

Cost-Effectiveness of a Practical Approach to Prevent Respiratory Infection Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Settings: The CARES Strategy.

American journal of infection control·2026
Same journal

Advancing the science of hydrogen peroxide disinfection.

American journal of infection control·2026
Same journal

Enterprise Risk Management-Based Framework for Surgical Site Infection Prevention in Gynecologic Surgery: A Multidisciplinary Implementation Study.

American journal of infection control·2026
Same journal

Occupational Mpox in Personal Protective Equipment-Compliant Registered Nurse Reinforces Importance of CDC 21-Day Self-Monitoring After Patient Care.

American journal of infection control·2026
Same journal

Simulation-based outbreak training and large language models in infection prevention and control education.

American journal of infection control·2026
See all related articles

Intensive interventions to improve handwashing frequency in intensive care units showed minimal long-term impact. Multifaceted approaches including automated sinks and feedback did not significantly alter hand hygiene practices.

Area of Science:

  • Healthcare quality improvement
  • Infection control practices
  • Patient safety research

Background:

  • Handwashing is critical for infection control, yet interventions often yield limited results.
  • This study investigated factors influencing handwashing frequency in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting.
  • Addressing predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors is key to improving hand hygiene.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention on handwashing frequency.
  • To assess the impact of automated sinks, focus groups, and staff feedback on hand hygiene.
  • To determine the long-term effects of enhanced handwashing interventions.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective quasi-experimental design was employed over 12 months in two ICUs.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Interventions included focus groups, automated sink installation, and performance feedback.
  • Handwashing frequency was observed, alongside self-reported practices and opinions.

    • Main Results:

    • Observed handwashing varied by procedure type, from 38% before invasive procedures to 86% for dirty-to-clean tasks.
    • While some short-term differences were noted between units, handwashing frequency returned to baseline levels at follow-up.
    • No significant changes in self-reported handwashing practices or opinions were observed post-intervention.

    Conclusions:

    • Intensive, multifaceted interventions had minimal lasting effect on handwashing frequency in ICUs.
    • Feedback, education, and increased sink automation did not lead to sustained improvements in hand hygiene.
    • Further research is needed to identify more effective strategies for improving handwashing compliance.