title: Hand hygiene compliance rate among healthcare professionals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To motivate healthcare professionals, with a focus on improving hand hygiene compliance.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, prospective, longitudinal study was conducted on the evaluation of hand hygiene compliance at Hera General Hospital, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from May 2009 to May 2010. Four components to improve hand hygiene compliance were implied; daily audit, monthly staff education; quarterly workshops of hand hygiene, and education material distribution. The compliance rate was calculated by its adherence with number of opportunities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of total 163 healthcare professionals were surveyed for hand hygiene compliance; 57 (35%) were doctors, 92 (56.4%) nurses, and 14 (8.6%) patient care technicians. The overall compliance rate was 50.3%, and its distribution among staff was as follows; doctors 49.1%, nurses 52.2%, and technicians 42.8%. The highest compliance rate among doctors and nurses was found in surgical units. A low compliance in high intensity patient care area was observed such as in the emergency room and out patient department. The patient care technicians showed highly variable results, as their compliance rate was 100% in medical units while 0% in various other clinical areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall hand hygiene compliance rate of healthcare professionals reached 50% after a long education campaign, and was highest among the nurses. Further study is needed to explore the reasons for non-compliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Hera General Hospital, PO Box 20865, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. zahidbukhari100@msn.com
authors.forename: Syed Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Bukhari
authors.forename: Waleed M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Abdulhakeem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banjar
authors.forename: Wail H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Almaimani
authors.forename: Talal M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Karima
authors.forename: Mohammad I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Fatani
mesh_terms: D004496:Education, Continuing; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D012529:Saudi Arabia