Educating healthcare workers to optimal hand hygiene practices: addressing the need

The education of healthcare workers is essential to improve practices and is an integral part of hand hygiene promotional strategies. According to the evidence reviewed here, healthcare worker education has a positive impact on improving hand hygiene and reducing healthcare-associated infection. Det...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Infection 2010-10, Vol.38 (5), p.349-356
Main Authors: Mathai, E, Allegranzi, B, Seto, W. H, Chraïti, M.-N, Sax, H, Larson, E, Pittet, D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavioural change
Biological and medical sciences
Cross Infection - prevention & control
Education
education programs
Family Medicine
General Practice
Guidelines as Topic
Hand Disinfection
Hand hygiene
Health care
Health Personnel - education
Healthcare workers
Healthcare-associated infection
Humans
Hygiene - education
Infectious Diseases
Internal Medicine
Medical sciences
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Miscellaneous
Personal hygiene
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Review
WHO recommendations
World Health Organization
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Summary:The education of healthcare workers is essential to improve practices and is an integral part of hand hygiene promotional strategies. According to the evidence reviewed here, healthcare worker education has a positive impact on improving hand hygiene and reducing healthcare-associated infection. Detailed practical guidance on steps for the organization of education programmes in healthcare facilities and teaching-learning strategies are provided using the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for Hand Hygiene in Health Care as the basis for recommendations. Several key elements for a successful educational programme are also identified. A particular emphasis is placed on concepts included in the tools developed by WHO for education, monitoring and performance feedback.
ISSN:0300-8126
1439-0973
DOI:10.1007/s15010-010-0047-7