Hand-hygiene Intervetions Reported in the Last 10 Years: a Systematic Review
Keywords:
Hand Hygiene, Healthcare-Associated Infections, Compliance, Interventional StudiesAbstract
Introduction:
Hand hygiene is a fundamental aspect of infection control within healthcare settings, crucial for reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and improving patient outcomes. Despite its importance, compliance with hand hygiene practices remains suboptimal. This comprehensive systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hand-hygiene interventions reported in the last 10 years, focusing on identifying strategies that significantly enhance hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers.
Methods:
The review systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL for interventional studies and clinical trials published in English from the last 10 years up to 2022. Inclusion criteria targeted studies that implemented and assessed the effectiveness of hand hygiene interventions in healthcare settings. The primary outcomes considered were improvements in hand hygiene compliance rates and reductions in HAIs. Quality assessment and data extraction were conducted using standardized tools, and the evidence was synthesized to highlight the impact of various intervention strategies.
Results:
Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing a variety of intervention designs, including educational programs, technological innovations, and feedback mechanisms. The review found that multifaceted interventions were particularly effective, leading to compliance improvements ranging from 40% to 90%. Risk ratios for the reduction of HAIs varied between 1.2 and 1.8, indicating a substantial impact of effective hand hygiene practices on patient safety. Interventions combining education with feedback and technological supports showed the highest efficacy.
Conclusions:
The systematic review underscores the significance of multifaceted hand hygiene interventions in enhancing compliance and reducing HAIs in healthcare settings. Educational programs, coupled with feedback mechanisms and technological innovations, emerge as the most effective strategies. Tailoring these interventions to the specific context of healthcare settings can significantly improve hand hygiene practices, thereby contributing to better patient outcomes and safety.
