A Quantitative Assessment on Hand Hygiene Adherence Among Patients Admitted to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Hand washing is considered the single-most important practice in hospitals that reduce likelihood of acquiring/transferring infections. In March 2014, two Purell® hand wipes were added to the meal trays of patients to perform hand hygiene before and after consuming their meals. The purpose of this Capstone project was to evaluate the baseline state of patient hand hygiene adherence. Once newly implemented Purell® wipes were placed onto patient meal trays, a post intervention analysis was completed. Pre and post intervention surveys were distributed to patients on four inpatient units identified by the TJUH Department of Infection Control. The aims were to understand and increase patient hand hygiene adherence. The surveys also requested what types of hand sanitizing products were being utilized for those who were performing hand hygiene prior to and after consuming meals. For those patients who chose not to perform hand hygiene, the survey requested rationale from a patient perspective. The data was used to conduct a quantitative assessment by identifying the advantages and improvements of one test of change made in the units surveyed. Prior to the implementation of wipes, hand hygiene adherence was a major issue for patients who did not have access to the resources they needed to perform hand hygiene. Other reasons included, patients forgot to perform hand hygiene, or did not consider the importance of washing their hands which may lead to the spread of germs, a hospital acquired infection and increased healthcare costs. Looking at hand hygiene from a public health perspective, it appears that people assume hospitals are a safe, germ free environment and are not at susceptible to germs. The hand sanitizing wipe implementation has led to heightened awareness and an increase in the performance of hand hygiene by TJUH patients. Presentation: 18 minute