Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: September | Volume: 7 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 159-165
Hand Hygiene, Attitude and Barriers among Health Care Workers at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital, Uttarakhand
Rajesh Kumar1, Puneet Kumar Gupta2, Purnima Sharma3, Ravneet Kaur3, Reetu3, Renu3, Renu Verma3, Richa Saini3, Ritika3, Sanjana3, Shalu3
1Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, Uttarakhand-249203
2Assistant Professor, Microbiology, AIIMS, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand-249203
3BSc (Hons.) Nursing Intern Students, AIIMS, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand-249203
Corresponding Author: Rajesh Kumar
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Health care associated infection (HCAI) is one of the most significant, and current phenomena for discussions in health care industry. Hand hygiene was thought to be a key factor in reducing hospital acquired infection during the initial development of healthcare system. The present study aimed to determine hand hygiene compliance, attitude and barriers among health care workers (HCWs).
Material & Methods: A cross sectional observational survey was conducted by recruiting 115 health care workers from different in-patient departments at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. Convenience consecutive sampling technique was used to enroll HCWs. Modified WHO hand hygiene checklist, attitude scale and checklist for identification of barriers was used to ascertain compliance, attitude and barriers. Appropriate descriptive & inferential statistics was applied to compute the results.
Results: Results shows higher adherence (10%) to hand hygiene practices among faculty followed by senior residents (7.14%) and medical and nursing interns (6.71%). However, the partial adherence to hand hygiene practices was surprisingly high (63.04%) among HCWs. There was significant difference in attitude towards hand hygiene practices among medical and nursing professionals. Further, findings revealed that inconvenient placement of hand hygiene facility was prime reported (85.21%) barrier for poor adherence to hand hygiene practices followed by over burden of patient (80.87%), understaffing/overcrowding (81.73%) and hand hygiene is time consuming activity (80.86%) HCWs.
Conclusion & recommendation: The study concluded poor hand hygiene compliance among HCWs. Study findings recommend improvement in existing facilities for hand hygiene and make them readily accessible for HCWs at their respective departments to enable them to engage in good practices which will be beneficial for them and patients.
Key words: hand hygiene, compliance, adherence, health care workers, barrier, attitude