Promoting hand hygiene in a chemotherapy day center: the role of a robot

• Published in: Antimicrobial resistance & infection control 2024-12, Vol.13 (1), p.154-7, Article 154
• Main Authors: Wong, Shuk-Ching, Ip, Stephen Chun-Yat, Kwok, Monica Oi-Tung, Siu, Crystal Yuen-Ki, Chen, Jonathan Hon-Kwan, So, Simon Yung-Chun, Chiu, Kelvin Hei-Yeung, Yuen, Kwok-Keung, Cheng, Vincent Chi-Chung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer; Care and treatment; Chemotherapy; Chemotherapy day center; Cross Infection - prevention & control; Female; Guideline Adherence; Hand Disinfection - methods; Hand hygiene; Hand Hygiene - methods; Health aspects; Health Personnel; Hong Kong; Humans; Hygiene; Infection; Infection Control - methods; Male; Medical personnel; Promotion; Robot; Robotics; Robots; Sensors
• ISSN: 2047-2994; 2047-2994
• DOI: 10.1186/s13756-024-01510-5

Hand hygiene is a critical component of infection prevention in healthcare settings. Innovative strategies are required to enhance hand hygiene practices among patients and healthcare workers (HCWs). This study was conducted at the Chemotherapy Day Center of Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. It comprised three phases: phase 1 involved observational audits of hand hygiene practices among patients and HCWs by infection control nurse (ICN); phase 2 included the installation of 53 pressure sensors on alcohol-based hand rub (AHR) bottles at designated sites to monitor usage; phase 3 introduced the robot named Temi Medic to promote hand hygiene through video broadcasts at strategic locations in the center. The mean counts of pressure sensor-equipped AHR per 100 attendances per day (hereafter referred to as the mean count) across phases 2 and 3 were analyzed. A total of 2580 patient attended the center from April to September 2023. The ICN observed a significant increase in hand hygiene practices among patients at the entrance and reception area, rising from phase 1 (0.2%, 1/583) and phase 2 (0.5%, 3/656) to phase 3 (5.0%, 33/654) (p