Recent research suggests heavy workloads may contribute to poor hand hygiene compliance by anesthesia providers, according to a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
For their study, researchers employed five individuals to pose as nursing staff at a teaching hospital for four weeks. The observers were tasked with logging hand hygiene opportunities and failures among anesthesia care providers.
Over the four-week period, approximately 8,000 hand hygiene opportunities were documented, averaging 34-41 opportunities per hour. In addition, the aggregate failure rate was 82 percent. The researchers suggested clinical leaders investigate novel approaches to boost hand hygiene among anesthesia providers.
For their study, researchers employed five individuals to pose as nursing staff at a teaching hospital for four weeks. The observers were tasked with logging hand hygiene opportunities and failures among anesthesia care providers.
Over the four-week period, approximately 8,000 hand hygiene opportunities were documented, averaging 34-41 opportunities per hour. In addition, the aggregate failure rate was 82 percent. The researchers suggested clinical leaders investigate novel approaches to boost hand hygiene among anesthesia providers.
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