title: Field test comparison of two dermal tolerance assessment methods of hand hygiene products.
abstract: This study aimed to compare the sensitivity and workload requirement of two dermal tolerance assessment methods of hand hygiene products, in order to select a suitable pilot testing method for field tests. An observer-rating method and a self-assessment method were compared in 12 voluntary hospital departments (autumn/winter of 2005-2006). Three test-periods of three weeks were separated by two-week intervals during which the routine products were reintroduced. The observer rating method scored dryness and irritation on four-point scales. In the self-assessment method, the user rated appearance, intactness, moisture content, and sensation on a visual analogue scale which was converted into a 10-point numerical scale. Eleven products (soaps) were tested (223/250 complete reports for observer rating, 131/251 for self-assessment). Two products were significantly less well tolerated than the routine product according to the observers, four products according to the self-assessments. There was no significant difference between the two methods when products were classified according to tolerance (Fisher's test: P=0.491). For the symptom common to both assessment methods (dryness), there is a good correlation between the two methods (Spearman's Rho: P=0.032). The workload was higher for observer rating method (288 h of observer time plus 122 h of prevention team and pharmacist time compared with 15 h of prevention team and pharmacist time for self-assessment). In conclusion, the self-assessment method was considered more suitable for pilot testing, although further time should be allocated for educational measures as the return rate of complete self-assessment forms was poor.
authors.affiliation: Hygiene and Epidemiology Unit, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France. raphaelle.girard@chu-lyon.fr
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carré
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pires-Cronenberger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertin-Mandy
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Favier-Bulit
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coyault
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coudrais
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Billard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Regard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kerhoas
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Valdeyron
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cracco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Misslin
mesh_terms: D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D012915:Soaps / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D012915:Soaps