Journal of

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Abstract Background: Hand hygiene is the simplest and most effective preventive measures to reduce cross infection in hospitals. However, compliance with recommended instructions is commonly poor among healthcare workers. The present study aimed to explore potential behavioral determinants of hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers in intensive care units. Methods and Materials: A qualitative study was conducted, consisting of 42 semi-structures interviews with physicians (attending physicians, non-attending physicians, residents), nurses, nursing students and medical students, who worked in the intensive care units. Results: Participants mentioned self protection as the main reason for the performance of hand hygiene. According to the participants, hand hygiene was often performed after direct contacts and tasks that were perceived to be dirty. Participants were most concerned about knowledge gaps in hand hygiene practice. Most participants believed that having a good theoretical knowledge of hand hygiene guideline may strengthen healthcare workers' attitudes toward hand hygiene. Junior practitioners believed that the superiors' hand hygiene practice could influence their performance both negatively and positively. Participant also believed that the lack of formal and informal control may hinder compliance among healthcare workers. High workload, interruptions, and limited access to hand hygiene products were mentioned as primary barriers to hand hygiene. Conclusion: The findings revealed that a number of factors can influence had hygiene practice. Recommendations of the current study are of value to future researches aiming to improve compliance with hand hygiene behavior among healthcare workers.

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Background: consideration of hand hygiene can reduce health care infections effectively. Prevalence of poor hand hygiene consideration will lead to enhance morbidity, mortality and costs. This study aimed at assessing hand hygiene process of nurses by clinical audit method in a selected general hospital in Tabriz.

Materials and Methods: this study was an interventional one using clinical audit method which  was conducted during seven months in surgery, internal, child and women units in a selected general hospital in Tabriz in 2013-2014. The study was carried out on nurses in all shifts (morning, evening and night). Study instrument were monitoring performance checklist and hand washing observation. Checklist was developed by WHO and Ministry of Health guideline.

Results: the total number of situation in pre-intervention was 252 which increased to 336 by the interventions implementation. The overall rate of compatibility of hand hygiene process with standards was 59.94% in pre-intervention which promoted to 80.56% after intervention implementation.

Conclusion: This study reveals using clinical audit is a method to improve quality of hand hygiene process. 

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Background: Considering the importance of hand hygiene in nosocomial infections prevention and the low outcomes of performed researches in hand hygiene, this study aimed at assessing the effective factors on hand hygiene using planned behavior model among nursing and midwifery staff in atea hospital of Hamadan in 2015.

Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive and cross-sectional study in which all nursing and midwifery staff of the Atea hospital selected through census sampling. Hand hygiene behavior was observed and all participants filled out a questionnaire based on Planned Behavior Model. Data was analyzed   using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: only 31 participants (21.1%) had hand hygiene behavior higher than average and 123 (79.9%) had lower than average. Hand hygiene was in the lowest rate, 21.3% and 13% after patient contact and prior to action aseptic respectively.  Knowledge (84%) and attitude (90.4%) about hand hygiene was high, but the level of perceived control, (53.35%) was at the low level. Also, there were significant statistical differences between perceived control and hand hygiene between subjective norms and hand hygiene (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The knowledge and attitude to adopt hand hygiene behavior is not enough alone. Along with staff training, it is necessary to have hospital managers and physicians training, providing appropriate context and omitting barriers to have suitable hand hygiene behavior in practice.

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Background and Purpose: Infections related to inadequate healthcare practices can have adverse effects on healthcare systems. This study aims to identify the gap between the current handwashing practices and standard levels by determining the frequency of handwashing among staff at Shahid Modares Hospital in Tehran.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the wards of Shahid Modares Hospital between 2018 and 2019. The tool comprised two parts: job information and hand hygiene practices at different times and specific actions. Observers directly monitored all staff in each shift using a headcount method. Each column represented the hand hygiene compliance score of a specific professional group, allowing simultaneous performance evaluation.
Results: Out of 640 observed instances, 202 involved the use of disinfectants, 255 involved handwashing, 111 involved glove use, and in 71 instances, hand hygiene was not observed. The highest compliance occurred when staff intended to contact the patient's body, while the lowest compliance was observed after performing surgery on the patient.
Conclusion: Given the significant role of nurses in therapeutic interventions, multifaceted training interventions, the drafting of hand hygiene policies, and increasing awareness among department officials should prioritize this group of employees. These measures aim to bring practices closer to desired standards and prevent unwanted consequences.