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Attitudes and Perceptions Toward Hand Hygiene Among Healthcare Workers Caring for Critically Ill Neonates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Carmem Lucia Pessoa-Silva ,
Klara Posfay-Barbe ,
Riccardo Pfister ,
Sylvie Touveneau ,
Thomas V. Perneger  and
Didier Pittet
Carmem Lucia Pessoa-Silva
Affiliation:
Infection Control Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Klara Posfay-Barbe
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Riccardo Pfister
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Sylvie Touveneau
Affiliation:
Infection Control Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Thomas V. Perneger
Affiliation:
Quality of Care Unit, University of Geneva Hospitals, and the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Didier Pittet
Affiliation:
Infection Control Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Abstract

Background:

Infectious complications are frequent among critically ill neonates. Hand hygiene is the leading measure to prevent healthcare-associated infections, but poor compliance has been repeatedly documented, including in the neonatal setting. Hand hygiene promotion requires a complex approach that should consider personal factors affecting healthcare workers' attitudes.

Objective:

To identify beliefs and perceptions associated with intention to comply with hand hygiene among neonatal healthcare workers.

Methods:

An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire (74 items) based on the theory of planned behavior was distributed to 80 neonatal healthcare workers to assess intention to comply, attitude toward hand hygiene, behavioral and subjective norm perceptions, and perception of difficulty to comply. Variables were assessed using multi-item measures and answers to 7-point bipolar scales. All multi-item scales had satisfactory internal consistency (alpha > 0.7). Multivariate logistic regression identified independent perceptions or beliefs associated with a positive intention to comply.

Results:

The response rate was 76% (61 of 80). Of the 49 nurses and 12 physicians responding, 75% believed that they could improve their compliance with hand hygiene. Intention to comply was associated with perceived control over the difficulty to perform hand hygiene (OR, 3.12; CI95, 1.12 to 8.70; P = .030) and a positive perception of how superiors valued hand hygiene (OR, 2.89; CI95, 1.08 to 7.77; P = .035).

Conclusion:

Our data highlight the importance of the opinions of superiors and a strong perceived controllability over the difficulty to perform hand hygiene as possible internal factors that may influence hand hygiene compliance.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , March 2005 , pp. 305 - 311
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2005

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