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Observer Bias in Hand Hygiene Compliance Reporting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Sorabh Dhar ,
Ryan Tansek ,
Elizabeth A. Toftey ,
Beth A. Dziekan ,
Thomas C. Chevalier ,
Connie G. Bohlinger ,
Michelle Fitch ,
Margaret E. Flanagan ,
Teena Chopra  and
Dror Marchaim
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Sorabh Dhar
Affiliation:
Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Ryan Tansek
Affiliation:
Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Elizabeth A. Toftey
Affiliation:
Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Beth A. Dziekan
Affiliation:
Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Thomas C. Chevalier
Affiliation:
Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Connie G. Bohlinger
Affiliation:
Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Michelle Fitch
Affiliation:
Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Margaret E. Flanagan
Affiliation:
Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Teena Chopra
Affiliation:
Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Dror Marchaim
Affiliation:
Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Keith S. Kaye
Affiliation:
Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
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Abstract

Differences in reported hand hygiene compliance rates were assessed on the basis of the unit affiliation of observers. In 2 hospitals, unit-based observers more often reported higher compliance rates than did non-unit-based observers (79% vs 58.6%; difference, 20.4%; P<.001). Nonstandardized data collection methods contribute to the variability in hand hygiene compliance rates.

Type
Research Briefs
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 31 , Issue 8 , August 2010 , pp. 869 - 870
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2010

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References

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