title: Patient-as-observer approach: an alternative method for hand hygiene auditing in an ambulatory care setting.
abstract: A survey pilot asked patients to observe the hand hygiene compliance of their health care providers. Patients returned 75.1% of the survey cards distributed, and the overall hand hygiene compliance was 96.8%. Survey results and patient commentary were used to motivate hand hygiene compliance. The patient-as-observer approach appeared to be a viable alternative for hand hygiene auditing in an ambulatory care setting because it educated, engaged, and empowered patients to play a more active role in their own health care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: sheila.le-abuyen@uhn.ca.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Le-Abuyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Family Practice Health Centre, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Susie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Family Practice Health Centre, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De La Franier
authors.affiliation: Family Practice Health Centre, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Bibi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mosley
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Infection Prevention and Control, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gardam
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards*; D063373:Hand Hygiene / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Ambulatory care; Hand hygiene auditing; Patient engagement; Patient observer