Stepwise interventions for improving hand hygiene compliance in a level 3 academic neonatal intensive care unit in north India

J Perinatol. 2021 Dec;41(12):2834-2839. doi: 10.1038/s41372-021-01141-3. Epub 2021 Jul 28.

Abstract

Objective: We evaluated effect of sequentially introducing four WHO-recommended interventions to promote hand-hygiene compliance in tertiary-care NICU.

Study design: Four dedicated research nurses directly observed doctors and nurses to record success in hand-hygiene opportunities at randomly selected NICU beds and randomly sampled time-slots in four phases (of 4-weeks each): I-Baseline, II-Self-directed learning; III-Participatory learning; IV-Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV); and V-CCTV-plus (with feedback).

Findings: Hand-hygiene compliance changed from 61.8% (baseline) to 77% (end) with overall relative change: 24.6% (95% CI 18, 32; p value= 0.003); compared with preceding phase, relative changes of 21% (15, 28; <0.001), 4% (0, 8; 0.008), -10% (-13, -6; <0.001), and 10% (5, 15; <0.001) during phases II, III, IV, and V, respectively were observed. Rise in hand-hygiene compliance was higher for after-WHO-moments (12.7%; upto 2.5-folds for moment 5, <0.001) compared to before-WHO-moments (5.2%). Educational interventions, feedback and monitoring WHO moments can improve hand-hygiene compliance significantly among health-care providers in NICU.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cross Infection* / prevention & control
  • Guideline Adherence
  • Hand Disinfection
  • Hand Hygiene*
  • Health Personnel
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infection Control
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal