title: Hand-washing behaviour and nurses' knowledge after a training programme.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the nurses' hand-washing behaviour and knowledge before and after a training programme. This prospective study involved 200 nurses who participated in hand-washing training at a university hospital in Turkey. The data were collected using a personal information form and pre- and post-test surveys that had been developed by the researchers. During the study, the nurses received 40 min of training on hand washing and a handbook prepared by the researchers. The hand-washing behaviour and knowledge of the nurses were assessed before training and 1 month after the training. To analyse the data, descriptive statistics, a t-test and a Mc Nemar chi-squared test were used. Following the training, there was a significant increase in the frequency of hand washing by the nurses (t = -2.202, P = 0.029), together with an increase in the time allowed for hand washing (P = 0.024, P < 0.05), knowledge of hand-washing practices (t = -16.081, P < 0.05) and quality (t = -10.874, P < 0.05). Planned training programmes for hand washing should be implemented to improve the behaviour and knowledge of nurses.
authors.affiliation: Trakya University Training and Research Hospital, Edirne, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tulay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erkan
authors.forename: Ummu Yildiz
authors.initials: UY
authors.lastname: Findik
authors.forename: Burcu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tokuc
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D011361:Professional Competence