title: [Evaluation of hand hygiene guidelines and protocols used in Spain].
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate, through a retrospective and external study, the quality of Spanish hand hygiene guidelines and protocols. None of the guidelines achieved a score of 100% in all areas. The mean score was only 43.9%, ranging from 23.8% for rigorous design to 69.4% for clarity and presentation. None of the protocols achieved a score of 100% in all areas; 100% clearly named the health problem dealt with in the protocol, which was reflected in its contents, and complied with length specifications and absence of formal defects; 80% had a paginated index and 66.7% a definition of compliance, while only 6.7% contained information on organization and functioning, the necessary resources, procedures and evaluation period. In general, the average compliance was less than 50%, except in one guideline, which met 87.5% of the requirements Problems with references were found in 77.7%. In view of the problems detected, a new guide for the drafting of hand hygiene guidelines and protocols is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Funcional, Area de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Espinosa
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dolores Menéndez
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valbuena
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aibar
authors.forename: Jesús M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aranaz-Andrés
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vázquez
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain