Hand hygiene management among nurses: collective health challenges

João Manuel Graveto, Cristina Santos, Paulo Santos Costa, Elisabete Fernandes, Susana Alarico, Nádia Osório, Helena Albano, Vânia Oliveira

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the determining factors in hand hygiene management among nurses and identify associated collective health challenges. METHOD: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected using a questionnaire that was applied in four internal medicine units of a hospital of reference in Portugal.RESULTS: The sample was composed of 50 nurses aged 26 to 55 years (mean age of 34.88 years); 80% were women, 58% had a Bachelor's degree, and had 5-30 years of nursing practice (X̄ =11.94;±5.92). The vast majority of nurses (90%) reported complying with the existing recommendations on hand hygiene in pre-established moments. However, none of the nurses were able to identify all the moments for hand hygiene using water and soap or alcohol-based handrub. CONCLUSION: This study shows that continuous training, adequate materials/structures in the units, and redesigned administration/supervision practices are determining factors to achieve higher levels of adherence to hand hygiene among nurses, as well as increased quality and safety in care delivery, which is a current collective health challenge.
Translated title of the contributionGestão do procedimento higiene das mãos por enfermeiros: desafios para saúde coletiva
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)562-567
Number of pages6
JournalRevista Brasileira de Enfermagem
Volume71
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Keywords

  • Health services administration
  • Hand hygiene
  • Nurses
  • Infection control
  • Public health nursing

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