There are several simple ways hospitals can improve hand-hygiene compliance, according to MultiBriefs.
Six suggested strategies:
1. Give patients hand sanitizer upon their arrival at the hospital and check in periodically to make sure they use it.
2. Pay special attention to hand hygiene at the end of shifts, as this is when clinicians are least likely to wash their hands, according to a report from the American Psychological Association.
3. Use "gross-out" images as motivation. Research suggests that healthcare workers are more likely to wash their hands after viewing images of bacteria.
4. Show reminder videos on hand-washing to patients in waiting rooms and hallways.
5. Ask colleagues about their hand hygiene to remind them of its importance.
6. Set a positive example of good hand-washing behaviors to encourage other colleagues' compliance.