Handwashing: efficacy versus acceptance. A brief essay.
The efficacy of handwashing for preventing transmission of infections in the hospital is well accepted. Nevertheless, compliance by health care workers is estimated at approximately 40%. Based on observations of effective behavioural changes in other areas of public health, the authors suggest that hospital epidemiologists consider testing the use of both social pressures and marketing techniques to influence current handwashing practices in hospitals.
Wenzel
R P
RP
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City 52242.
Pfaller
M A
MA
D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D012927:Social Control, Informal