title: Association between students' personality traits and hand hygiene compliance during objective standardized clinical examinations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the need for hand hygiene (HH) is generally accepted, studies continue to document inadequate compliance. Medical students are taught about the importance of HH to prevent nosocomial infections, and receive training in the correct procedures for HH. However, personality traits (social orientation and achievement orientation) may influence HH compliance. People with high social orientation feel socially responsible and act cooperatively, and people with high achievement orientation are ambitious and competitive.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relationship between HH compliance and personality traits of medical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The HH compliance of 155 students was observed during objective standardized clinical examinations (OSCEs). Social orientation and achievement orientation were measured using the corresponding scales of the Freiburg Personality Inventory - Revised.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Social orientation did not differ between students with high HH compliance and students with low HH compliance [F(1) = 3.87, P = 0.052, η(2) = 0.045]. For achievement orientation, a moderate effect was found between low and high HH compliance [F(1) = 11.242, P = 0.001, η(2) = 0.119], and students with high HH compliance were found to be more achievement orientated than students with low HH compliance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Achievement orientation plays a major role during OSCEs, while social orientation is less emphasized. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to show that HH compliance is associated with achievement orientation in achievement situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Undergraduate Education and Educational Development, University Medicine Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim at Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schüttpelz-Brauns
authors.affiliation: Department of Undergraduate Education and Educational Development, University Medicine Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim at Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medicine Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim at Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Obertacke
authors.affiliation: Department of Undergraduate Education and Educational Development, University Medicine Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim at Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaden
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Paediatric Surgery, Division of Research and Education, University Medicine Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim at Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany. Electronic address: cornelia.hagl@medma.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Hagl
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D003187:Compliance; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Hand disinfection; Hygiene; Medical education